Home Master Index
←Prev   Acts 6 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


6:1  Now in · these days when the number of the disciples was increasing, there was a complaint by the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. · ·
6:2  So the twelve called together the entire group of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
6:3  Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to carry out · this responsibility.
6:4  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
6:5  And the proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
6:6  These they set before the apostles, · who prayed and laid their hands on them.
6:7  And the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
6:8  And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
6:9  But there rose up some of those of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with · Stephen.
6:10  Yet they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
6:11  Then they secretly talked some men into saying, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and · God.”
6:12  And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they suddenly moved in and seized him and brought him before the council,
6:13  and they set up false witnesses who said, · “This man does not stop saying words against · this holy place · and the law,
6:14  for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy · this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
6:15  And everyone who was sitting in the council, looking intently at him, saw · his face like the face of an angel.