# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1896_S43
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] of North America. 1896. 43

proved itself in deeds; dungeon and sword were brought to bear. One could expect from the outset: here there will be need; soon there will be many poor, and if we have not made provision, what will become of the congregation? So they took care that relief for need should be provided in advance. Whoever owned property had already brought it in for distribution. It was not long before people recognized how wise this provision had been, that a treasury had been set up from which one could take at once, without first having to collect. For communism had not been introduced there; it had never been laid upon any member of the congregation that he must give up his possessions, as we see in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. But a common and quite richly provided congregational treasury they had established. In the administration of this treasury, however, a need (Greek: chreia) soon came to light; the apostles noticed that here and there dissatisfaction was voiced; some were overlooked; the administration of the charity fund did not succeed as people themselves would gladly have seen it, namely that all should be richly provided for and content. Then circumstances were once more taken into account; certain functions, which belong to the one office in the church, were transferred to certain persons, so that the abuse which had appeared was remedied. Remarkable also is the wisdom and diligence with which the institution of the diaconate was carried out, taking account of the very local circumstances. For first we read: "In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." There were native Jews and Hellenists in the congregation, and it had happened that precisely widows of the Hellenists had been overlooked; from this dissatisfaction and even distrust had arisen, since the apostles were not Hellenists and precisely the Hellenist widows appeared to be neglected. Even these circumstances the congregation did not overlook along with the apostles; for when the deacons were then chosen, they were Philippus [Philip], a Hellenist, Prochorus, a Hellenist, in short, none but men from the party in which distrust had taken hold, in order to show them that it was unjustified and that there was earnest effort to deal justly and brotherly with all. Here we see how carefully and finely the congregation, in arranging these free matters, took account of the circumstances as they then prevailed in that congregation.

From this passage another important point emerges very clearly, namely that the free external arrangements of the congregation also exist fundamentally for this purpose and are to serve the end that the task of the congregation be fulfilled. For the apostles said, after they had recommended choosing such men: "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4. In order to