Acts 6:5-10

“When you hear hoof beats, think of horses not zebras.” Dr. Theodore Woodward, professor at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine, first taught his medical interns this in the late 1940’s. He was teaching them to first look to the simplest and most likely explanation for the symptoms they were treating. He did not want his students so busy searching for the exotic that they missed the obvious.

I have found his instruction to be useful in the study of scripture as well. Because language is constantly changing and evolving, there are instances where a scripture’s meaning is not simple or obvious. However, those instances are the exception, not the norm. I don’t see any zebras in the story of Stephen. I say this, because some commentators I’ve read write as if they were on safari. They saw a conflict between the people choosing Stephen to administer the daily distribution of food and then him speaking the good news about Jesus in a Greek-speaking synagogue. They wondered if it meant he was neglecting his responsibility. I do not see the conflict, I believe every Christian, even those who are in administration, have a responsibility to share the gospel. Some will be more effective than others will. It seems logical to me that a man full of the spirit and wisdom would be a convincing witness to the saving power of Jesus.

Some commentators made an issue of Stephen speaking in a Hellenistic synagogue. They thought it was an indication that the Hebraic Jews were neglecting this ministry. I do not see the problem they are obviously looking for. I believe Luke would have made it clear if racial prejudice were a major issue. Stephen was speaking to Hellenistic Jews because he was a Hellenistic Jew. He spoke in that synagogue because it was his synagogue.

We can learn from Stephen’s example. His full-time ministry was not preaching. That did not keep him from witnessing. Speaking about Jesus was not his job; it was his passion.