Acts 6
6
The First Seven Deacons Appointed
1 Now in these days, as#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were increasing”) the disciples were increasing in number,#*The words “in number” are not in the Greek text but are implied a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews#Literally “Hellenists” against the Hebraic Jews#Literally “Hebrews” because#Or “that” their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.#*The words “of food” are not in the Greek text but are implied 2So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables. 3So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation,#Literally “well spoken of” full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch), 6whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“prayed”) has been translated as a finite verb placed their#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hands on them.
7And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began obeying”) the faith.
Stephen Arrested
8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called),#Literally “called” both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia,#A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor) stood up and#*Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“disputed”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style disputed with Stephen. 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!” 12And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came up and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb seized him and brought him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to the Sanhedrin.#Or “council” 13And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place#Some manuscripts have “this holy place” and the law! 14For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15And as they#*Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“looked intently”) which is understood as temporal looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin#Or “council” saw his face was like the face of an angel.
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Acts 6: LEB
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Acts 6
6
The Word of God Prospered
1-4During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”
5-6The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose—
Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
Philip,
Procorus,
Nicanor,
Timon,
Parmenas,
Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.
Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task.
7The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.
* * *
8-10Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke.
11So in secret they bribed men to lie: “We heard him cursing Moses and God.”
12-14That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: “This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God’s Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us.”
15As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.