The early church faced many challenges. Early on tensions begin to develop between Hebrews and Hellenist.
The Hellenist were Jews who grew up outside the land of Israel. They spoke Greek, were raised in Greek culture, and used the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament.
The Hebrews were Palestinian Jews who spoke Aramaic and used the Hebrew Old Testament.
It seems that tensions developed over the care of widows. Widows were a disadvantaged segment of ancient society, mostly poor and easily oppressed. The leaders of the synagogue went house to house to collect money and goods for them and other needy people every Friday. The proceeds were distributed later in the day. Those who were temporarily in need received enough to enable them to carry on; and those who were permanently unable to support themselves received enough for fourteen meals, enough for two meals a day for a week.
The apostles appointed seven Greek men, and we know they were Greek by their names, to oversee the local food distribution program.
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