6:1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing {in number,} a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic {Jews} against the {native} Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving {of food.} |
6:2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. |
6:3 "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. |
6:4 "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." |
6:5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. |
6:6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. |
6:7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. |
6:8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
6:9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, {including} both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. |
6:10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. |
6:11 Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and {against} God." |
6:12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. |
6:13 They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; |
6:14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." |
6:15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. |