Waiting on tables refers to the daily distribution of food.1 The apostles realized that caring for the poor and needy is essential (see James 1:27; 1 Timothy 5:3–16), spiritual and material concerns being so intimately related that one always affects the other for better or worse. Since the number of Christians have grown, it is no longer possible for the apostles to supervise the daily distribution and give themselves to the work of preaching and prayer. Administrative needs have grown to such an extent that they need to appoint individuals who can give themselves to that work full time.
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.