John Calvin Commentary Acts 6:1

"Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." — Acts 6:1 (ASV)

Luke declares here on what occasion, for what purpose, and also with what rite, deacons were first made. He says, when a murmuring arose among the disciples, it was appeased by this remedy, as it is said in the common proverb, "Good laws have taken their beginning from evil manners."

It may seem strange that, since this is such an excellent and necessary function in the Church, it did not occur to the apostles at first—before any such occasion arose—to appoint deacons. Why, too, did the Spirit of God not give them the counsel they now follow, to which they were, so to speak, compelled?

But what happened was both better at that time and is also more profitable for us today, serving as an example. If the apostles had spoken of choosing deacons before any necessity required it, the people would not have been so receptive. The apostles would have seemed to be avoiding labor and trouble, and many would not have given so generously into the hands of others.

Therefore, it was necessary for the faithful to be convinced by experience, so that they would willingly choose deacons whom they realized they could not do without; and this conviction came about because of their own fault.

We learn from this history that the Church cannot be perfectly formed all at once, but that something always remains to be amended. Nor can such a great building be so finished in one day that nothing more can be added to make it perfect. Furthermore, we learn that there is no ordinance of God, however holy and praiseworthy, that is not either corrupted or made unprofitable through human fault.

We marvel that things are never so well ordered in the world that there is not always some evil mixed with the good; but it is the wickedness and corruption of our nature that causes this. That was, indeed, a godly order, which Luke mentioned before: when the goods of all, having been consecrated to God, were distributed to everyone according to their need, and when the apostles, being, so to speak, the stewards of God and for the poor, had the chief administration of the alms.

But shortly after, a murmuring arises which troubles this order. Here appears that human corruption of which I have spoken, which prevents us from properly using our good things.

We must also note the subtlety of Satan, who, so that he may deprive us of the use of God's gifts, continually works to ensure that this use does not remain pure and sound. Instead, by being mixed with other disadvantages, it may first be suspected, then loathed, and finally, completely taken away.

But the apostles have taught us by their example that we must not yield to such schemes (and strategies) of Satan. For they do not consider it appropriate (though troubled by the murmuring) to abolish that ministry which they know pleases God. Instead, they devise a remedy by which the cause of offense may be removed, and what is God's may be retained.

This is what we must do. For whatever stumbling blocks Satan may create, we must be very careful that he does not take from us those ordinances which are in themselves beneficial.

The number increasing. We should desire nothing more than for God to increase his Church and gather many from every side to his people. However, the corruption of our nature hinders us from experiencing anything that is positive in all respects. For many drawbacks also arise, even from the growth of the Church.

For it is difficult to keep many hypocrites from creeping into the multitude, whose wickedness is not immediately discovered, until they have infected some part of the flock with their contagion. Moreover, many wicked, perverse, and morally lax persons insinuate themselves under a false pretense of repentance.

And, to pass over innumerable other things, there is never such complete agreement among many people that, given the diversity of their characters, their opinions are not also diverse, so that one thing cannot please everyone equally. This problem causes many to prefer a small church; it causes them to loathe or even hate a multitude.

But no trouble, no irksomeness, should so prevail as to prevent us from always desiring the Church to be increased. We must strive to enlarge it and cherish, as much as is in our power, unity with the whole body.

A murmuring of the Greeks. This shows that they were not fully regenerated by the Spirit of God, for whom the diversity of nation and country provided an occasion for disagreement. For in Christ there is neither Jew nor Grecian (Galatians 3:28). Therefore, this indignation smacks of the flesh and the world.

Therefore, we must be very careful that a similar fault is not found in us. It is also a fault that they declare their indignation by murmuring. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the complaint was true or not. For when Luke says that the Greeks murmured because their widows were not honored, he does not show what was actually done, but what they thought was done.

And it may be that since the apostles preferred the Jews, because they were better known, the Greeks thought (though falsely) that their widows were despised as strangers. And this seems more likely to be true. Furthermore, the word ministering may be interpreted in two ways: actively or passively.

For we know that at first there were widows chosen for the ministry. Nevertheless, I am more inclined to think that the Greeks complained because their widows were not as generously assisted as they wished. So, the 'ministration' would refer to that daily distribution which was customarily made.