Acts 6
6
Seven Chosen to Serve
1In those days, as the number of the disciples # Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 9:1,10,19,25-26; 21:4,16 was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews # Jews of Gk language and culture against the Hebraic Jews # Jews of Aram or Hb language and culture that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. # Ac 2:41; 4:4,35; 5:14; 9:29,39; 11:20 2Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. # Or to serve tables 3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, # Dt 1:13; 1Tm 3:7 full of the Spirit # Lk 4:1; Ac 7:55; 11:19,24 and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.” 5The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, # Ac 6:8-9; 11:19; 22:20 a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. # Mt 23:15; Ac 8:5,26; 21:8 6They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed # Ac 1:24; 8:17; 13:3; 2Tm 1:6 and laid their hands on # Nm 8:10; Ac 9:17; 1Tm 4:14 them. # The laying on of hands signified the prayer of blessing for the beginning of a new ministry.
7So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied # Ac 12:24; 19:20; Col 1:6 greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some from what is called the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. 10But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
11Then they persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God! ” # 1Kg 21:10,13; Mt 26:59-60 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. # Mt 24:15; Ac 7:58; 21:28; 25:8 14For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” # Dn 9:26; Ac 15:1; 21:21; 26:3; 28:17 15And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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Acts 6: HCSB
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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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