New Testament
Acts 6
Overview
As the church multiplies, a complaint arises that the Greek-speaking (Hellenist) widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food while the Hebrew widows are served. The twelve apostles convene the disciples and propose a solution: it is not right for them to leave the ministry of the word to wait on tables, so the church should choose seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to oversee this work, leaving the apostles free for prayer and the word. The proposal pleases all, and seven men—all bearing Greek names, including Stephen, "a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," and Philip—are chosen and set apart by prayer and the laying on of hands. The result is growth: "the word of God increased," the disciples multiplied greatly, and even many priests became obedient to the faith. Stephen, full of grace and power, works great wonders, but men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen dispute with him and, unable to resist his Spirit-given wisdom, secretly recruit false witnesses to charge him with blasphemy against Moses, the temple, and the law. Stirring up the people and the council, they seize Stephen and set him before the Sanhedrin, where the false witnesses testify against him—yet all who look on him see his face shining like the face of an angel.
1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.
2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
3Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council,
13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.