选出七位执事

在那些日子里,门徒增多。说希腊语的犹太人抱怨那些说希伯来语的犹太人,因为他们的寡妇在每日的服事[a]上被忽略了。 于是十二使徒[b]召来全体门徒,说:“我们撇下神的话语[c],去管理饭食,是不妥当的。 所以弟兄们,要从你们当中挑选七个有好名声、充满圣灵和智慧的人;我们就委任他们统管这事务。 这样,我们将可专心于祷告和福音[d]的服事工作。” 这话使全体会众都喜悦,于是选出了司提反——他是一个充满信仰和圣灵的人,还有腓利普罗克罗尼卡诺提门帕米纳,以及入犹太教的安提阿尼古拉斯 他们请这些人站在使徒们面前,使徒们就祷告,按手在他们身上。

这样,神的话语[e]不断扩展[f],在耶路撒冷门徒的人数大大增多,并且有一大群祭司也听从了这信仰。

司提反被捕

司提反满有恩惠[g]和能力,在民间行了许多大奇事和神迹。 可是一些来自称为“自由人”会堂的人,包括一些古利奈人、亚历山大人,还有来自奇里乞亚省和亚细亚省的人,起来与司提反辩论, 10 司提反以智慧和圣灵说话,他们就抵挡不住。

11 于是他们暗中唆使人说:“我们听过这个人针对摩西和神说亵渎的话语。” 12 他们又煽动民众、长老和经文士们就忽然来抓住司提反,把他带到议会, 13 并且推出假见证人说:“这个人不断地说亵渎神的话语,反对这圣所[h]和律法[i] 14 我们曾听到他说,这个拿撒勒人耶稣要拆毁这地方[j],也要改变摩西传给我们的规矩。” 15 所有坐在议会里的人都注视着司提反,看见他的面容好像天使的面容。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 6:1 服事——或译作“供应”。
  2. 使徒行传 6:2 使徒——辅助词语。
  3. 使徒行传 6:2 神的话语——或译作“神的道”。
  4. 使徒行传 6:4 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
  5. 使徒行传 6:7 神的话语——或译作“神的道”。
  6. 使徒行传 6:7 扩展——原文直译“生长”。
  7. 使徒行传 6:8 恩惠——有古抄本作“信心”或“信仰”。
  8. 使徒行传 6:13 圣所——或译作“圣地”或“圣洁的地方”。
  9. 使徒行传 6:13 说亵渎神的话,反对这圣所和律法——有古抄本作“说反对这圣所和律法的话”。
  10. 使徒行传 6:14 这地方——指“圣殿”。

选出七位执事

门徒不断增加的时候,讲希腊话的犹太人,埋怨本地的希伯来人,因为在日常的供给上,忽略了他们的寡妇。 于是十二使徒召集了众门徒,说:“要我们放下 神的道,去管理伙食,是不合适的。 所以弟兄们,应当从你们中间选出七个有好见证、满有圣灵和智慧的人,我们就派他们负责这事。 至于我们,我们要专心祈祷、传道。” 这个意见全会众都很满意,于是选出司提反,他是一位满有信心和圣灵的人,还有腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼加挪、提门、巴米拿,以及归信犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉, 叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告后,就为他们按手。  神的道传开了;在耶路撒冷,门徒人数大大增加,有很多祭司也信从了真道。

司提反被捕

司提反满有恩惠能力,在民间施行大奇事和神迹。 当时有几个称为“自由人”会堂的人,就是从古利奈和亚历山太来的人,另外还有基利家人和亚西亚人,他们出面与司提反辩论, 10 但司提反靠着圣灵和智慧说话,他们就抵挡不住。 11 于是他们唆使众人,说:“我们听过他说谤渎摩西和 神的话。” 12 又煽动民众、长老、经学家,这些人就来捉拿他,把他带到公议会, 13 并且造了假的证供说:“这人不断抨击圣地和律法。 14 我们听他说过:‘这拿撒勒人耶稣要毁坏这地方,改变摩西传给我们的规例。’” 15 当时,坐在公议会里的人,都注视他,见他的面貌像天使一样。

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,(A) the Hellenistic Jews[a](B) among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows(C) were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.(D) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples(E) together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God(F) in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters,(G) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit(H) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them(I) and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,(K) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;(L) also Philip,(M) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)

So the word of God spread.(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs(R) among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene(S) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia(T) and Asia(U)—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.(V)

11 Then they secretly(W) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”(X)

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.(Y) 13 They produced false witnesses,(Z) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place(AA) and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place(AB) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”(AC)

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin(AD) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Selection of seven to serve

About that time, while the number of disciples continued to increase, a complaint arose. Greek-speaking disciples accused the Aramaic-speaking disciples because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food service. The Twelve called a meeting of all the disciples and said, “It isn’t right for us to set aside proclamation of God’s word in order to serve tables. Brothers and sisters, carefully choose seven well-respected men from among you. They must be well-respected and endowed by the Spirit with exceptional wisdom. We will put them in charge of this concern. As for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and the service of proclaiming the word.” This proposal pleased the entire community. They selected Stephen, a man endowed by the Holy Spirit with exceptional faith, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. The community presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. God’s word continued to grow. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased significantly. Even a large group of priests embraced the faith.

Arrest and murder of Stephen

Stephen, who stood out among the believers for the way God’s grace was at work in his life and for his exceptional endowment with divine power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose from some who belonged to the so-called Synagogue of Former Slaves. Members from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia entered into debate with Stephen. 10 However, they couldn’t resist the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 11 Then they secretly enticed some people to claim, “We heard him insult Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the legal experts. They caught Stephen, dragged him away, and brought him before the Jerusalem Council. 13 Before the council, they presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. 14 In fact, we heard him say that this man Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and alter the customary practices Moses gave us.” 15 Everyone seated in the council stared at Stephen, and they saw that his face was radiant, just like an angel’s.

Jerusalem, First Center of Diffusion[a]

Chapter 6

Institution of the Seven Deacons.[b] In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews,[c] asserting that their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And so the Twelve called together the entire community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven[d] men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task. We will then be able to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism. They then presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.[e]

The word of God continued to spread ever more widely. The number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Accusation against Stephen.[f] Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, began to work great wonders and signs among the people. Then certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as others from Cilicia and Asia, came forward to debate with Stephen. 10 However, they were unable to refute him because of his wisdom and the Spirit who inspired his speech.

11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 After this, stirring up the people as well as the elders and the scribes, they seized Stephen, placed him under arrest, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

13 Then they called forward false witnesses who claimed, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law. 14 For we have heard him assert that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the traditions that Moses handed down to us.” 15 All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 The community at Jerusalem lived in the impetus of the Resurrection and of the Spirit. It could not stay by itself and remain sheltered from the threats of religious authorities. Its energy made it go out into the world and tell the good news.
  2. Acts 6:1 The Church decides on the ministers needed in order to maintain her freedom to pray and preach. The “deacons,” all of whom have Greek names, are not limited to an economic function; we also see them in the service of the Gospel, as in the case of Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:6; 21:8), who also baptizes (Acts 8:12-13). The laying on of hands is a sign of the official investiture of those who have been appointed by the choice of the assembly.
  3. Acts 6:1 Hellenists . . . Hebrews: although the Church at this time was composed of Jews, these were of two types: Hellenists and Hebrews. The Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews born outside Palestine who followed a Grecian philosophy. Hebrews spoke Aramaic and followed Jewish customs.
  4. Acts 6:3 Twelve . . . seven: the Twelve are representative of the twelve tribes of Israel; the Seven represent the Gentiles dwelling in Canaan (see Acts 13:19; Deut 7:1).
  5. Acts 6:6 Laid hands on them: the Jewish practice of assigning someone for a task and calling down God’s blessing on that person to carry it out (Num 27:18, 23; Deut 34:9).
  6. Acts 6:8 The first Christian martyr has his gaze fixed on Christ in profound attachment to his person (Acts 7:55) and in an interior imitation of Christ’s suffering and death. Unlike the Passion of Jesus, however, that of Stephen is accompanied by a lengthy discourse that has as its basic theme God present in the midst of humanity in Jesus Christ. The lengthy interpretation of the history of Israel, made up of citations from the Old Testament, is less a demonstration than an indictment of a religion that is locked into its past.