Seven Chosen to Serve

Now in those days, (A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (B)Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected (C)in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (D)“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, (E)seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this (F)business; but we (G)will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, (H)a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and (I)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and (J)Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and (K)when they had prayed, (L)they laid hands on them.

Then (M)the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many (N)of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

And Stephen, full of [b]faith and power, did great (O)wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And (P)they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 (Q)Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak [c]blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 (R)for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Address: The Call of Abraham

Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

And he said, (S)“Brethren and fathers, listen: The (T)God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in (U)Haran, and said to him, (V)‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ Then (W)he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was (X)dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, (Y)He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke in this way: (Z)that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into (AA)bondage and oppress them four hundred years. (AB)‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will (AC)judge,’ said God, (AD)‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ (AE)Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; (AF)and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; (AG)and Isaac begot Jacob, and (AH)Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

The Patriarchs in Egypt

(AI)“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, (AJ)sold Joseph into Egypt. (AK)But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, (AL)and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 (AM)Now a famine and great [d]trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 12 (AN)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 13 And the (AO)second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 14 (AP)Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and (AQ)all his relatives to him, [e]seventy-five people. 15 (AR)So Jacob went down to Egypt; (AS)and he died, he and our fathers. 16 And (AT)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in (AU)the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

God Delivers Israel by Moses

17 “But when (AV)the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, (AW)the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king (AX)arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, (AY)making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Greek-speaking Jews
  2. Acts 6:8 NU grace
  3. Acts 6:13 NU omits blasphemous
  4. Acts 7:11 affliction
  5. Acts 7:14 Or seventy, Ex. 1:5

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