Living Room Study

Acts 6

“In those days, as the number of disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.  Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, ‘It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables.” Acts 6:1-2

Hidden in today’s passage is a controversial little statement.  Most people just skip past it.  The statement is at the beginning of verse 2.  “Then the Twelve summoned the whole company…”

The controversy in the statement concerns who is missing: The apostle Paul.  Today’s passage points to decisions that were made during the time after Judas had hung himself, yet before Paul’s conversion.

Many Christians believe Paul was the 12th apostle.  I don’t believe scripture supports that.  Matthias was the 12th apostle.  “Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias.  So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.”  Acts 1: 26

So, was Paul an apostle?  Of course!  He was the apostle to the Gentiles.

“Now, I am speaking to you Gentiles.  In view of the fact that I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.” Romans 11:13

The issue people have with there being 13 apostles, lies in their ignorance of Jewish culture and symbols.  People assume that because there were 12 disciples, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, there can only be 12 apostles.

12 apostles works, if Jesus only came to redeem Israel.  Jesus came initially to the Jews, but with the outpouring of His Spirit, the Gentiles were given the same access to His salvation & Spirit.  “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and now also to the Gentiles.  For in it, God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

In Jewish understanding, the number 13 is the number of completion.  13 is not “unlucky” in the Jewish culture…it is blessed.  Consider the Shema: “Hear oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”  The Hebrew word for “One” is “Echad”.  In the Hebrew language, there are no numbers…so each letter has a numerical value.  Added together, the word “Echad” is “Thirteen”.

The idea of 12 apostles leading Israel, and the 13th bringing the gospel to the Gentiles is completely biblical, for it brings “echad” to the world.  It completes the body of Messiah, bringing unity to Jewish and Gentile believers.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins