Deacon: Anglicized form of the Greek word diaconos, meaning a "runner,"
"messenger," "servant." For a long period a feeling of mutual
jealousy had existed between the "Hebrews," or Jews proper, who spoke
the sacred language of palestine, and the "Hellenists," or Jews of
the Grecian speech, who had adopted the Grecian language, and read
the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the Hebrew. This
jealousy early appeared in the Christian community. It was alleged by
the Hellenists that their widows were overlooked in the daily
distribution of alms. This spirit must be checked. The apostles
accordingly advised the disciples to look out for seven men of good
report, full of the Holy Ghost, and men of practical wisdom, who
should take entire charge of this distribution, leaving them free to
devote themselves entirely to the spiritual functions of their office
(Acts 6:1-6) This was accordingly done. Seven men were chosen, who
appear from their names to have been Hellenists. The name "deacon" is
nowhere applied to them in the New Testament; they are simply called
"the seven"
(Acts 21:8) Their office was at first secular, but it
afterwards became also spiritual. Both Philip and Stephen, who were
of "the seven," preached; they did "the work of evangelists."
