The Challenge of Growing Pains

Acts 4:32-3532Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said thatany of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33Andwith great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many aswere owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35and laidit at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.Acts 6:1-71Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by theHellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the dailydistribution. 2And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not rightthat we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3Therefore, brothers, pickout from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we willappoint to this duty. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faithand of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, andNicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laidtheir hands on them.7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multipliedgreatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.