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
1And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration,
2and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, ‘It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables;
3look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,
4and we to prayer, and to the ministration of the word, will give ourselves continually.’
5And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
6whom they did set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid on them [their] hands.
7And the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude also of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people,
9and there arose certain of those of the synagogue, called of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia, disputing with Stephen,
10and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking;
11then they suborned men, saying — ‘We have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God.’
12They did stir up also the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon [him], they caught him, and brought [him] to the sanhedrim;
13they set up also false witnesses, saying, ‘This one doth not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy place and the law,
14for we have heard him saying, That this Jesus the Nazarean shall overthrow this place, and shall change the customs that Moses delivered to us;’
15and gazing at him, all those sitting in the sanhedrim saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.
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