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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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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