Acts 6

The Appointment of the First Seven Deacons

6:1 Now in those¹ days, when the disciples were growing in number,² a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews³ against the native Hebraic Jews,⁴ because their widows⁵ were being overlooked⁶ in the daily distribution of food.⁷ 6:2 So the twelve⁸ called⁹ the whole group¹⁰ of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.¹¹ 6:3 But carefully select from among you, brothers,¹² seven¹³ men who are well-attested,¹⁴ full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge¹⁵ of this necessary task.¹⁶ 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 6:5 The¹⁷ proposal pleased the entire group, so¹⁸ they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with¹⁹ Philip,²⁰ Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism²¹ from Antioch.²² 6:6 They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed²³ and placed²⁴ their hands on them. 6:7 The word of God continued to spread,²⁵ the number of disciples in Jerusalem²⁶ increased greatly, and a large group²⁷ of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen is Arrested

6:8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs²⁸ among the people. 6:9 But some men from the Synagogue²⁹ of the Freedmen (as it was called),³⁰ both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia,³¹ stood up and argued with Stephen. 6:10 Yet³² they were not able to resist³³ the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 6:11 Then they secretly instigated³⁴ some men to say, “We have heard this man³⁵ speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 6:12 They incited the people, the³⁶ elders, and the experts in the law;³⁷ then they approached Stephen,³⁸ seized him, and brought him before the council.³⁹ 6:13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place⁴⁰ and the law.⁴¹ 6:14 For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs⁴² that Moses handed down to us.” 6:15 All⁴³ who were sitting in the council⁴⁴ looked intently at Stephen⁴⁵ and saw his face was like the face of an angel.⁴⁶

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