Acts 6
6
1 In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration.
2 And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: "It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also.
3 Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work.
4 Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word."
5 And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch.
6 These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on them.
7 And the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the people.
9 But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11 Then they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.
12 And thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized him and brought him to the council.
13 And they set up false witnesses, who said: "This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place and the law.
14 For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the traditions, which Moses handed down to us."
15 And all those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel.
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Acts 6: CPDV
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Acts 6
6
The Disciples Choose Seven Men to Help the Apostles
1At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.
2The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. 3So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. 4However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word.”
5The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch. 6The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.
7God’s word continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.
Stephen Is Arrested
8Stephen was a man filled with God’s favor #6:8 Or “grace.” and power. He did amazing things and performed miracles. 9⌞One day⌟ some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen’s Synagogue. 10They couldn’t argue with Stephen because he spoke with the wisdom that the Spirit had given him. 11Then they bribed some men to lie.
These men said, “We heard him slander Moses and God.” 12The liars stirred up trouble among the people, the leaders, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. So they went to Stephen, took him by force, and brought him in front of the Jewish council. 13Some witnesses stood up and lied about Stephen. They said, “This man never stops saying bad things about the holy place and Moses’ Teachings. 14We heard him say that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses gave us.”
15Everyone who sat in the council stared at him and saw that his face looked like an angel’s face.
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