Djela apostolska 6
Apostoli biraju sedmoricu
1 Ali kako je broj vjernika naglo rastao, neki se počnu žaliti. Židovi koji su govorili grčki prigovarali su Židovima koji su govorili hebrejski da zanemaruju njihove udovice u svagdanjem dijeljenju pomoći.
2 Dvanaestorica zato sazovu vjernike.
"Mi apostoli ne bismo trebali služiti pri stolovima umjesto da propovijedamo i poučavamo Riječ.3 Pronađite, braćo, među sobom sedam ljudi na dobrome glasu, punih Svetoga Duha i mudrosti. Njih ćemo za to zadužiti,
4 a mi ćemo se posvetiti molitvi te propovijedanju i poučavanju Riječi."
5 Prijedlog se svima svidio. Izaberu Stjepana, čovjeka punog vjere i Svetoga Duha, te Filipa, Prohora, Nikanora, Timona, Parmenu i Nikolu koji je došao iz Antiohije. On se kao poganin obratio na židovsku vjeru, a sada je postao kršćaninom.
6 Postave njih sedmoricu pred apostole, a oni polože na njih ruke i pomole se.
7 Božja riječ sve se više širila. Broj vjernika u Jeruzalemu naglo je rastao, a i mnogi su židovski svećenici prihvaćali vjeru.
Stjepanovo uhićenje
8 Stjepan je bio pun Božje milosti i sile. Činio je među narodom silna čudesa i znamenje.9 Ali pobune se neki iz takozvane sinagoge Slobodnjaka, Židovi iz Cirene, Aleksandrije, Cilicije i Male Azije, pa počnu s njime raspravljati.
10 Nitko od njih nije se mogao nositi s mudrošću i Duhom kojim je Stjepan govorio.
11 Nagovore zato neke ljude da za njega kažu: "Čuli smo ga da govori pogrdne riječi protiv Mojsija i protiv Boga."12 Podjarili su i narod i starješine i pismoznance. Oni dođu po njega, ščepaju ga i odvuku u Vijeće.13 Dovedu onamo krivokletnike koji izjave: "Ovaj čovjek uvijek govori protiv Hrama i protiv Mojsijeva zakona.14 Čuli smo da kaže kako će taj Isus iz Nazareta uništiti Hram i promijeniti običaje koje nam je Mojsije predao."
15 Svi koji su sjedili u Vijeću pogledaju u Stjepana i opaze da mu je lice poput anđeoskog.
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