[Sidenote: Distinction between "Grecians" (or Hellenists) and
"Hebrews."]

By the "Grecians" are meant those Jews of foreign birth and education
who had adopted Greek customs and the Greek language so entirely, that
some even of their most learned men did not understand Hebrew {17} but
read the Scriptures of the Old Testament in the Septuagint Version.
They were much despised by the stricter and more narrow-minded
"Hebrews," the natives of Palestine, or Syro-Chaldaic Jews; and the
rivalries of these two Jewish sects were carried even into the bosom of
Christ's Church. [Sidenote: Complaint of the "Grecians."] The
Grecians, or "_Hellenists_" complained that their widows were neglected
in the daily distribution of alms; perhaps grounding their complaint on
the fact that the Twelve were all Hebrews. [Sidenote: Deacons
ordained.] And the Apostles commanded that "seven men of honest report"
should be chosen from the body of believers, and presented to them,
that they might be ordained by Imposition of Hands to minister to the
bodily wants of the poor and aged. This was the first institution of
the Order of Deacons[39], the lowest of the three holy offices which
were to be continually handed down and perpetuated in the Church. Thus
did the Apostles begin to impart to others such a portion of the
ministerial grace, of which they themselves had been at first the sole
recipients, as might enable those whom they ordained to aid them, in a
subordinate degree, in the work of building up the mystical Body of
Christ.

[Sidenote: Increasing conversions.]

This fresh proof of the vitality of the Church through the active,
living Presence of her Divine Head, was followed by a new feature in
the still increasing conversions to her fold. It was no longer the
poor and the unlearned only, or chiefly, who listened to the teaching
of the Apostles, {18} "a great company of the Priests were obedient to
the Faith[40]," while, on the other hand, a growing and more bitter
spirit of persecution was soon to develope itself.

Section 8. _The Martyrdom of St. Stephen._

[Sidenote: A.D. 34. The Seven Deacons.]

St. Stephen, the foremost and saintliest of the Seven Deacons, and St.
Philip, the second in order, are the only two of whom we have any
further mention in the Book of Acts; but it is believed that the last
named, Nicolas of Antioch, was the author of the heresy of the
Nicolaitanes, which our Blessed Lord twice over tells us tha