Acts 6
6
Appointed for Service
1Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support.
2So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3So, brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this duty.
4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the Word.”
5The statement pleased the whole group; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6They placed these men before the emissaries; and after praying, they laid hands on them.
7The word of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly multiplied; even a great number of the kohanim were becoming obedient to the faith.
Stephen’s Testimony and Martyrdom
8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen—both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and Asia—stood up and began arguing with Stephen.
10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Ruach by whom he was speaking.
11Then they secretly instigated men into saying, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God!”
12They also incited the people, the elders, and the Torah scholars; and they rushed at Stephen, seized him, and led him away to the Sanhedrin.
13They set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking words against this holy place and the Torah.
14For we have heard him saying that this Yeshua ha-Natzrati will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15Watching him intently, everyone who was sitting in the Sanhedrin saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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Acts 6: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Acts 6
6
Seven Chosen to Serve
1Now in these days #ch. 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; [ver. 7] when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists#6:1 That is, Greek-speaking Jews arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in #[ch. 4:35]the daily distribution. 2And 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. 3#[Deut. 1:13] Therefore, brothers,#6:3 Or brothers and sisters pick out from among you seven men #[1 Tim. 3:7] of good repute, #ver. 5; ch. 7:55; 11:24; [Luke 1:15; 4:1]full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4But #See ch. 1:14we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, #ch. 11:24 a man full of faith and #ver. 3 of the Holy Spirit, and #ch. 8:5; 21:8 Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, #ch. 2:11; 13:43; Matt. 23:15a proselyte of Antioch. 6These they set before the apostles, and #ch. 1:24; 13:3 they prayed and #1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6; [ch. 8:17; 9:17; 19:6; Heb. 6:2]laid their hands on them.
7And #ch. 12:24; 19:20; [Col. 1:5, 6] the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests #See Rom. 1:5 became obedient to #ch. 13:8; 14:22; 16:5the faith.
Stephen Is Seized
8And Stephen, full of grace and #See ch. 1:8power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10But #See Luke 21:14, 15they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11Then #[1 Kgs. 21:10, 13; Matt. 26:59, 60]they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13and they #ver. 11 set up false #ch. 7:58 witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against #[ch. 21:28; 25:8; Matt. 24:15]this holy place and the law, 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth #[Dan. 9:26; Matt. 26:61] will destroy this place and will #[Matt. 5:17] change #ch. 15:1; 21:21the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face #[Judg. 13:6; Eccles. 8:1]was like the face of an angel.
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