使徒行传 6

拣选七人办理供给之事

1 那些日子，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在日常的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。 2 十二使徒叫众门徒来，说：“我们撇下上帝的道去管理饭食，是不合宜的。 3 所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、满有圣灵和智慧，我们派他们管理这事。 4 至于我们，我们要专注于祈祷和传道的事奉。” 5 这话使全会众都喜悦，就拣选了司提反—他是一个满有信心和圣灵的人；他们又拣选了腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并皈依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 上帝的道兴旺起来；在耶路撒冷门徒数目增加得很多，也有许多祭司听从了这信仰。

司提反被捕

8  司提反满有恩惠和能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。 9 当时有从称为“自由人”会堂，并古利奈、亚历山大会堂来的人，还有些从基利家、亚细亚来的人，起来和司提反辩论。 10 司提反是以智慧和圣灵说话，众人抵挡不住， 11 就收买人来说：“我们听见他说亵渎摩西和上帝的话。” 12 他们又煽动百姓、长老和文士，就突然来捉拿他，把他带到议会去， 13 设下假见证，说：“这个人不断地说话，侮辱神圣的地方和律法。 14 我们曾听见他说，这拿撒勒人耶稣要毁坏这地方，也要改变摩西所交给我们的规矩。” 15 在议会里坐着的人都定睛看他，见他的面貌好像天使的面貌。

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.