A Year in Luke/ActsNäide

Chapter 6 begins by noting a conflict between Hellenist and Hebrew members of the early church. Hellenists were “bicultural Jews” (Kenner, p217, Acts) who had Jewish heritage but might have grown up in a more Greek cultural context. We see from this point on the inclusion of these people as leaders in the expanding church, and they become key aspects of the movement's expansion. They were able to reach cultures that a fisherman from Galilee was not familiar with.