HANDELINGE 6
Sewe mans word vir 'n spesifieke diens in die gemeente gekies
1 Namate die aantal gelowiges steeds toegeneem het, het daar klagtes gekom. Die Griekssprekendes het gekla oor die daaglikse verspreiding van kos aan hulle weduwees. Hulle het beweer dat die Arameessprekendes hulle afskeep.
2 Die Twaalf roep toe al die gelowiges bymekaar en sê vir hulle:
"Ons as apostels behoort ons besig te hou met die verkondiging van die woord van God, nie met die verspreiding van kos nie.3 Medegelowiges, kies sewe mans onder julle wat daarvoor bekend is dat hulle vol van die Heilige Gees is en wysheid het. Ons sal hulle dan vir hierdie bediening aanstel.
4 Óns sal dan al ons tyd bestee aan gebed en die bediening van die woord."
5 Die voorstel het by almal byval gevind, en hulle het die volgende mans verkies: Stefanus ('n man vol van geloof en die Heilige Gees), Filippus, Progorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas en Nikolaus van Antiogië (wat voorheen 'n Joodse proseliet was).
6 Hierdie sewe is aan die apostels voorgestel, en dié het vir hulle gebid en hulle die hande opgelê om hulle vir hulle taak toe te rus.
7 Die woord van God het verder versprei, en die aantal gelowiges in Jerusalem het geweldig toegeneem. Selfs 'n groot klomp priesters het gelowig geword.
Stefanus word gearresteer
8 Stefanus, 'n man vol van God se genade en krag, het wonders en groot tekens onder die mense gedoen.9 Op 'n dag het 'n klompie lede van die sogenaamde "Sinagoge van die Vrygelate Slawe" met hom in debat getree. Hulle was Jode wat van Sirene en Aleksandrië, en van die provinsies Silisië en Asië gekom het.
10 Hulle was egter nie opgewasse teen die wysheid en die Gees waarmee hy gepraat het nie.
11 Toe het hulle mans omgekoop om oor Stefanus te jok en te sê: "Ons het hom beledigende dinge teen Moses en selfs teen God hoor sê."
12 Só het hulle dit reggekry om die skares en die familiehoofde en die skrifkenners op te sweep. Dié het Stefanus gearresteer en hom voor die Joodse Raad gebring.
13 Die vals getuies het gesê: "Hierdie man hou aan om afbrekend van die tempel en van die wet van Moses te praat.14 Ons het hom regtig hoor sê dat hierdie Jesus van Nasaret die tempel sal verwoes en die tradisies wat Moses vir ons gegee het, sal verander."
15 Al die raadslede het stip na Stefanus gekyk en gesien dat sy gesig soos dié van 'n engel skitter.
ACTS 6
Seven Leaders for the Church
1 A lot of people were now becoming followers of the Lord. But some of the ones who spoke Greek started complaining about the ones who spoke Aramaic. They complained that the Greek-speaking widows were not given their share when the food supplies were handed out each day.
2 The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, “We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables.t 3 My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things.
4 We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.”
5 This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish peoplet in Antioch. 6 These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show they had been chosen to do this work.
7 God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.Stephen Is Arrested
8 God gave Stephen the power to work great miracles and wonders among the people. 9 But some men from Cyrene and Alexandria were members of a group who called themselves “Free Men.”t They started arguing with Stephen. Some others from Cilicia and Asia also argued with him. 10 But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him.
11 So they talked some men into saying, “We heard Stephen say terrible things against Moses and God!”
12 They turned the people and their leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed him and dragged him in front of the council.
13 Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they said, “This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the Law of Moses. 14 We have heard him claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses gave us.” 15 t Then all the council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.