Seven Chosen to Serve
1
Now in these days 1when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenistsa arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in 2the daily distribution.
2
And 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
3Therefore, brothers,b pick out from among you seven men 4of good repute, 5full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
4
But 6we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
5
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, 7a man full of faith and 8of the Holy Spirit, and 9Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, 10a proselyte of Antioch.
7
And 13the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests 14became obedient to 15the faith.
Stephen Is Seized
8
And Stephen, full of grace and 16power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9
Then 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.
10
But 17they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11
Then 18they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
12
And 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,
13
and they 19set up false 20witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against 21this holy place and the law,
14
for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth 22will destroy this place and will 23change 24the customs that Moses delivered to us."
15
And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face 25was like the face of an angel.
Herramientas de Estudio para Acts 6
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)