HANDELINGE 6
Sewe diakens word gekies
1 In daardie tyd, toe die gelowiges nog steeds meer geword het, het daar teen die Hebreeussprekendes klagtes gekom van die Griekssprekendes dat hulle weduwees in die daaglikse versorging afgeskeep word. 2 Die twaalf apostels roep toe al die gelowiges bymekaar en sê vir hulle: “Dit is nie reg dat ons die verkondiging van die woord van God verwaarloos om die versorging te kan behartig nie. 3 Nou, broers, soek sewe mans onder julle uit wat daarvoor bekend is dat hulle vol van die Heilige Gees is en wysheid het, sodat ons hulle vir hierdie taak kan aanstel. 4 Ons sal dan al ons aandag aan gebed en die bediening van die woord bly gee.”
5 Die voorstel het by al die gelowiges byval gevind, en hulle het Stefanus gekies, 'n man met 'n vaste geloof en vol van die Heilige Gees, en verder Filippus, Progorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, en Nikolaus wat van Antiogië afkomstig was en vantevore uit die heidendom tot die Jodedom oorgegaan het. 6 Die gelowiges het hulle voor die apostels gebring, en dié het vir hulle gebid en hulle die hande opgelê.
7 Die woord van God het verder versprei, en die getal gelowiges in Jerusalem het geweldig toegeneem. Selfs 'n groot aantal priesters het gelowig geword.
Stefanus word gevange geneem
8 Stefanus, aan wie God baie genade en krag gegee het, het groot wonders en tekens onder die volk gedoen. 9 Party van die lede van die Sinagoge van die Vrygelate Slawe, soos dit genoem is, wat bestaan het uit Jode wat van Sirene en Aleksandrië afkomstig was, het toe saam met Jode wat van die provinsies Silisië en Asië gekom het, met Stefanus begin redeneer. 10 Hulle was egter nie opgewasse teen die wysheid wat hy van die Gees ontvang het en waarmee hy gepraat het nie. 11 Toe het hulle mense omgekoop om te sê: “Ons het hom teen Moses en God hoor laster.”
12 Hulle het die volk en die familiehoofde en die skrifgeleerdes opgesweep. Dié het op hom afgestorm, hom gegryp en voor die Joodse Raad gebring 13 en vals getuies gekry om te sê: “Hierdie man wil nie ophou om dinge teen die heilige tempel en die wet van Moses te sê nie. 14 Ons het hom hoor sê dat hierdie Jesus van Nasaret die tempel sal afbreek en die voorskrifte wat Moses vir ons gegee het, sal verander.”
15 Toe al die lede van die Raad stip na Stefanus sit en kyk, sien hulle dat sy gesig soos dié van 'n engel lyk.
Acts 6
1 NOW ABOUT this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief).2 So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food.3 Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.4 But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.5 And the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch.6 These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them.7 And the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and [besides] a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith [in Jesus as the Messiah, through Whom is obtained eternal salvation in the kingdom of God].8 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favor) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people.9 However, some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), as it was called, and [of the synagogues] of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, arose [and undertook] to debate and dispute with Stephen.10 But they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.11 So they [secretly] instigated and instructed men to say, We have heard this man speak, using slanderous and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses and God.12 [Thus] they incited the people as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came upon Stephen and arrested him and took him before the council (Sanhedrin).13 And they brought forward false witnesses who asserted, This man never stops making statements against this sacred place and the Law [of Moses];14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down and destroy this place, and will alter the institutions and usages which Moses transmitted to us.15 Then all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel.