Acts Chapter 6

Appointing the 7

            ¹ At that time when the number of disciples was multiplying, the Hellenists started grumbling against the Hebrews for overlooking their widows in daily food distribution. ² The Twelve assembled the disciples,

“We shouldn’t step aside from serving God’s message to serving tables. ³ So pick out seven men with good reputations, who have the Spirit and wisdom, and we’ll appoint them to take care of this. ⁴ We’ll continue in prayer and serving the message.”

⁵ That pleased the crowd, and they chose Stephen, a man with great faith and the Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas; and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ They presented them to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them. ⁷ God’s message grew, and the number of disciples multiplied tremendously in Jerusalem. A large group of priests obeyed the faith.      

Acts 6:1-7

Stephen’s Arrest

            ⁸ With grace and power, Stephen was doing great signs among the people. ⁹ Some rose up from The Synagogue of the Freemen, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asians, trying to argue with him; ¹⁰ but they couldn’t stand up to his wisdom and spirit. ¹¹ So they bribed some guys to say, “We heard him blaspheme Moses and God.” ¹² They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³ False witnesses stood up, “He keeps speaking against this Holy Place and the Law. ¹⁴ We’ve heard him say Jesus the Nazarene will tear this place down and change the customs Moses delivered.” ¹⁵ Everybody sitting in the Sanhedrin looked at him intently and saw his face like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:8-15