Chapter 11 

Early Church History 

The First Deacons 

    In the early Church, some Christians had converted from among the Greek speaking Jews, called Hellenists, 

while others had converted from among the Hebrew speaking Jews. Some of the Hellenists complained that 

their widows were not receiving their fair share in the daily distribution of food and other necessities within the 

Christian Community (Acts 6:1). The most likely time for such a dispute would be during a Jewish Sabbatical 

year, when the Jews would neither sow nor harvest their crops (Lev 25:1 7). During such times, particularly 

towards the end of the Sabbatical year, food would be in short supply. The general shortage of food would put 

a strain on the resources of the Community, which could naturally result in some complaints about unequal 

distribution of food. 

    The Acts of the Apostles describes the Twelve Apostles settling this dispute together:  And the twelve 

summoned the body of the disciples .  (Acts 6:2). Therefore, the Twelve Apostles had not yet dispersed to 

distant lands to spread the Gospel. This dispute occurred soon after the year of the Crucifixion. 

    The first Sabbatical year after the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ was 

A.D.

 20/21. 

(See chapter 16 for details on Jewish Sabbatical and Jubilee years.) Each Sabbatical year (during this period of 

time) began in the autumn, in the month of Tishri, and ended the following autumn. Early in the Sabbatical 

year, food was still available from the harvest of the previous year. Thus, in the Sabbatical year of 

A.D.

 20/21, 

the shortage of food would reach its peak in 

A.D.

 21. So 

A.D.

 21 is most likely time for this dispute over the 

distribution of food and for the appointment of the first seven deacons. 

The Stoning of Saint Stephen 

    Stephen was one of the first seven deacons in the Church (Acts 6:1 7). He disputed with the Jewish leaders 

(Acts 6:8    7:57).  Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their 

garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.  (Acts 7:58). The Jewish people were under Roman 

occupation and were not allowed to put anyone to death. When the Jewish leaders wanted to put Jesus to 

death, they could not stone Him, but had to convince Pilate to put Him to death through Roman crucifixion 

(Jn 18:31). So how could the Jewish leaders stone Stephen to death, when the Romans forbid them from doing 

so? 

    According to Josephus, at the end of his ten year rule over Judea, Pilate was accused of murder by the 

Samaritan Senate. The Roman general Vitellius ordered Pilate to go to Rome to answer to the charge of 

murder. He also sent his friend Marcellus to govern Judea in Pilate's absence.

591

 Because of this change in 

leadership, the Romans had less control over Judea. Marcellus was never officially given the title of procurator 

over Judea; he was appointed by  a Roman general, not by the Roman Emperor.

592

 He was like a substitute 

teacher in a classroom the students see that the substitute has less authority than his predecessor, so they feel 

more free to break the rules. Also, the Jews saw that by their complaint against Pilate, he was both removed 

from office and charged with a serious crime. This apparent power to remove a Roman leader from office 

emboldened them. Furthermore, there may have been a space of time between the departure of Pilate and the 

arrival of Marcellus. For Josephus says that Pilate  made haste to Rome  and did not dare to contradict the 

orders of Vitellius.

593

 This hasty departure under pressure from a Roman general means that Pilate might not 

have waited for the arrival of Marcellus before leaving for Rome. 

    Saint Stephen could only have been stoned to death during this change in leadership from Pilate to 

Marcellus. Pilate's rule ended just prior to the death of the emperor Tiberius.

594

 In my revised chronology of 

the reigns of the Roman emperors, Tiberius died in March of 

A.D.

 22 (see chapter 13 for details). The trip to 

Rome was made by a long journey by sea and was more difficult in the winter months. Pliny tells us that Feb. 

8 was the date when the Mediterranean Sea was considered open for travel after the harsh winter weather.

595

But Pilate may have departed sooner, being under pressure from Vitellius.

596

 The trip to Rome by sea is 

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