John Calvin Commentary Acts 6:5

"And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;" — Acts 6:5 (ASV)

Stephen, full of faith. Luke does not, therefore, separate faith from the Spirit, as if it also were not a gift of the Spirit. Instead, by "Spirit" he means other gifts with which Stephen was endowed, such as zeal, wisdom, uprightness, brotherly love, diligence, and integrity of a good conscience; secondly, he expresses the principal kind.

Therefore, he signifies that Stephen excelled first in faith and, secondly, in other virtues, so that it was evident he had an abundance of the Spirit's grace. He does not commend the rest as much, because undoubtedly they were inferior to him. Moreover, the ancient writers widely affirm that this Nicholas, who was one of the seven, is the same one whom John mentions in Revelation 2:15, namely, that he was an author of a filthy and wicked sect, because he advocated for women to be held in common.

For this reason, we must not be negligent in choosing ministers of the Church. For if the hypocrisy of men deceives even those who are most vigilant and careful to take heed, what will happen to the careless and negligent? Nevertheless, if, after we have used such caution as is appropriate, it happens that we are deceived, let us not be overly troubled, because Luke says that even the apostles were subject to this problem.

Some will then ask this question: What good does exhortation do? Of what use is prayer, since the outcome itself shows that the election was not wholly governed by the Spirit of God? I answer that it is a significant matter that the Spirit directed their judgments in choosing six men; that He allows the Church to go astray in the seventh should not seem absurd.

For it is necessary that we be humbled in these various ways: partly, so that the wicked and ungodly may test us; partly, so that, being taught by their example, we may learn to examine ourselves thoroughly, lest there be in us any hidden and secret corners of deceit; and partly, so that we may be more cautious in discerning and, as it were, continually keep watch, lest we be deceived by crafty and unfaithful men.

It may also be that Nicholas's ministry was profitable for a time, and that he afterward fell into that monstrous error. And if he indeed fell in such a way from such an honorable position, then the higher any one of us is exalted, the more let him submit himself to God with modesty and fear.