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When Problems Arise In Serving The Needy In The Church, Deacons Are Chosen To Oversee It

Now during these days, while the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews[a] because their widows were being overlooked[b] in the daily ministry [of food]. And the twelve, having summoned the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not pleasing[c] that we, having left-behind the word of God, should be serving tables[d]. But brothers, look-for[e] seven men from-among you being attested, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put-in-charge[f] over this need[g]. And we will devote-ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word”. And the statement was pleasing in the sight of the whole multitude. 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 Nicolas (a proselyte from Antioch), whom they stood before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God was growing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was being multiplied greatly. And a large crowd of the priests were obeying the faith.

Stephen Is Seized While Doing Miracles And Proclaiming Christ With Irresistible Wisdom

Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. But some of the ones from the synagogue being called “of Freedmen[h]”— both[i] Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and the ones from Cilicia and Asia— rose-up, debating[j] with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly-induced[k] men [to begin] saying that “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God”. 12 And they stirred-up the people and the elders and the scribes. And having suddenly-come-upon him, they seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin. 13 And they put-forward false witnesses, saying, “This man does not cease speaking words against this holy place and the Law. 14 For we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear-down this place, and change the customs which Moses handed-down to us”. 15 And having looked-intently at him, all the ones sitting in the council [chamber] saw his face was like a face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Hellenists... Hebrews. That is, the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians... the Judean Hebrew Jewish Christians.
  2. Acts 6:1 Or, neglected.
  3. Acts 6:2 Or, not a pleasing thing.
  4. Acts 6:2 That is, food tables, dispersing food; or, money tables, dispersing money for food.
  5. Acts 6:3 Or, look-at, examine; and thus, select.
  6. Acts 6:3 Or, appoint, set.
  7. Acts 6:3 Or, function, task, business.
  8. Acts 6:9 That is, Hellenistic Jewish slaves who were freed and then returned to Israel.
  9. Acts 6:9 Or, and. Luke may be naming five, two, or one synagogue.
  10. Acts 6:9 Or, disputing.
  11. Acts 6:11 Or, suborned.

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,(A) the Hellenistic Jews[a](B) among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows(C) were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.(D) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples(E) together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God(F) in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters,(G) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit(H) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them(I) and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,(K) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;(L) also Philip,(M) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)

So the word of God spread.(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs(R) among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene(S) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia(T) and Asia(U)—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.(V)

11 Then they secretly(W) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”(X)

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.(Y) 13 They produced false witnesses,(Z) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place(AA) and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place(AB) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”(AC)

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin(AD) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture