Acts 6
Selection of seven to serve
1 About that time, while the number of disciples continued to increase, a complaint arose. Greek-speaking disciples accused the Aramaic-speaking disciples because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food service.2 The Twelve called a meeting of all the disciples and said, "It isn’t right for us to set aside proclamation of God’s word in order to serve tables.3 Brothers and sisters, carefully choose seven well-respected men from among you. They must be well-respected and endowed by the Spirit with exceptional wisdom. We will put them in charge of this concern.4 As for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and the service of proclaiming the word."5 This proposal pleased the entire community. They selected Stephen, a man endowed by the Holy Spirit with exceptional faith, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.6 The community presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 God’s word continued to grow. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased significantly. Even a large group of priests embraced the faith.
Arrest and murder of Stephen
8 Stephen, who stood out among the believers for the way God’s grace was at work in his life and for his exceptional endowment with divine power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.9 Opposition arose from some who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Former Slaves. Members from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia entered into debate with Stephen.10 However, they couldn’t resist the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.11 Then they secretly enticed some people to claim, "We heard him insult Moses and God."12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the legal experts. They caught Stephen, dragged him away, and brought him before the Jerusalem Council.13 Before the council, they presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law.14 In fact, we heard him say that this man Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and alter the customary practices Moses gave us."
15 Everyone seated in the council stared at Stephen, and they saw that his face was radiant, just like an angel’s.
Acts 6
The Appointment of the First Seven Deacons
1 Now in thoset days, when the disciples were growing in number,t a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jewsts against the native Hebraic Jews,t because their widowss were being overlookedt in the daily distribution of food.ts2 So the twelves calledt the whole groupt of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.t3 But carefully select from among you, brothers,t sevens men who are well-attested,t full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charget of this necessary task.t4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”5 Thet proposal pleased the entire group, sot they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, witht Philip,s Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaismt from Antioch.s6 They stood these men before the apostles, who prayedts and placedt their hands on them.
7 The word of God continued to spread,t the number of disciples in Jerusalems increased greatly, and a large groupts of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen is Arrested
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signst among the people.9 But some men from the Synagogues of the Freedmen (as it was called),t both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia,t stood up and argued with Stephen.10 Yett they were not able to resists the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.11 Then they secretly instigatedt some men to say, “We have heard this mant speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”12 They incited the people, thet elders, and the experts in the law;t then they approached Stephen,t seized him, and brought him before the council.t13 They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy places and the law.s14 For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customsts that Moses handed down to us.”
15 Allt who were sitting in the councilt looked intently at Stephent and saw his face was like the face of an angel.s