While the early church overcame persecution from outside and continued to grow, problems from within posed more serious threats. Luke records one of the first problems within the church in Acts 6:1-4:

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The church provided for those of its number in need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32, 34-35). Widows were particularly vulnerable in those times because they typically spent their entire lives serving in households that belonged to their fathers and then their husbands. Often, they did not own property. They had few economic opportunities. The people of God provide for widows in their affliction (Jas. 1:27).

The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews from the Dispersion (or their descendants) as opposed to Jews born in Palestine who primarily spoke Aramaic. Perhaps because the Hellenists were not as familiar to the church in Jerusalem, their widows were neglected. Whatever the reason, this partiality shown to one group caused a complaint of discrimination to arise.

The apostles responded to this problem by directing good and wise men to be appointed over this matter to serve as administrators to ensure that the work was done fairly with no neglect. The apostles could have served tables, but they recognized their role was to minister the word of God. The apostles were not saying that the business of caring for widows was unimportant, but rather there were others who could take care of that work who were not necessarily capable of teaching and preaching the word of God as the apostles did. The church—both in the first-century miraculous era and today—is made of many different members who all have distinct roles to fill in doing the Lord’s work (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:12-31).   

The inspired record includes notes surrounding this episode that show because the apostles were not hindered in their ministry of the word, numerical growth of the church resulted from the word of God increasing (Acts 5:42; 6:7). Later Paul would write of the church supporting (honoring) widows if they had no relatives to support them (1 Tim. 5:3-16). In that same chapter, he went on to write: “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Tim. 5:17). The importance of the ministry of the word to the growth of the kingdom is a theme in the Scriptures we must not overlook. The Bible places an emphasis on how it is proper to provide for those preaching and teaching the gospel so that they have time for their important work (1 Cor. 9:4-14; Gal. 6:6).