使徒行传 6

选出七位执事

1 门徒不断增加的时候，讲希腊话的犹太人，埋怨本地的希伯来人，因为在日常的供给上，忽略了他们的寡妇。2 于是十二使徒召集了众门徒，说：“要我们放下 神的道，去管理伙食，是不合适的。3 所以弟兄们，应当从你们中间选出七个有好见证、满有圣灵和智慧的人，我们就派他们负责这事。4 至于我们，我们要专心祈祷、传道。”5 这个意见全会众都很满意，于是选出司提反，他是一位满有信心和圣灵的人，还有腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼加挪、提门、巴米拿，以及归信犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉，6 叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告后，就为他们按手。7 神的道传开了；在耶路撒冷，门徒人数大大增加，有很多祭司也信从了真道。
司提反被捕8 司提反满有恩惠能力，在民间施行大奇事和神蹟。9 当时有几个称为“自由人”会堂的人，就是从古利奈和亚历山太来的人，另外还有基利家人和亚西亚人，他们出面与司提反辩论，10 但司提反靠着圣灵和智慧说话，他们就抵挡不住。11 于是他们唆使众人，说：“我们听过他说谤渎摩西和 神的话。”12 又煽动民众、长老、经学家，这些人就来捉拿他，把他带到公议会，13 并且造了假的证供说：“这人不断抨击圣地和律法。14 我们听他说过：‘这拿撒勒人耶稣要毁坏这地方，改变摩西传给我们的规例。’”15 当时，坐在公议会里的人，都注视他，见他的面貌像天使一样。

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