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選出七位執事

門徒不斷增加的時候,講希臘話的猶太人,埋怨本地的希伯來人,因為在日常的供給上,忽略了他們的寡婦。 於是十二使徒召集了眾門徒,說:“要我們放下 神的道,去管理伙食,是不合適的。 所以弟兄們,應當從你們中間選出七個有好見證、滿有聖靈和智慧的人,我們就派他們負責這事。 至於我們,我們要專心祈禱、傳道。” 這個意見全會眾都很滿意,於是選出司提反,他是一位滿有信心和聖靈的人,還有腓利、伯羅哥羅、尼加挪、提門、巴米拿,以及歸信猶太教的安提阿人尼哥拉, 叫他們站在使徒面前。使徒禱告後,就為他們按手。  神的道傳開了;在耶路撒冷,門徒人數大大增加,有很多祭司也信從了真道。

司提反被捕

司提反滿有恩惠能力,在民間施行大奇事和神蹟。 當時有幾個稱為“自由人”會堂的人,就是從古利奈和亞歷山太來的人,另外還有基利家人和亞西亞人,他們出面與司提反辯論, 10 但司提反靠著聖靈和智慧說話,他們就抵擋不住。 11 於是他們唆使眾人,說:“我們聽過他說謗瀆摩西和 神的話。” 12 又煽動民眾、長老、經學家,這些人就來捉拿他,把他帶到公議會, 13 並且造了假的證供說:“這人不斷抨擊聖地和律法。 14 我們聽他說過:‘這拿撒勒人耶穌要毀壞這地方,改變摩西傳給我們的規例。’” 15 當時,坐在公議會裡的人,都注視他,見他的面貌像天使一樣。

選立執事

那時,門徒的人數與日俱增。當中有些講希臘話的猶太人埋怨講希伯來話的猶太人,說對方在日常分配食物的事上怠慢了他們的寡婦。 於是,十二使徒召集所有的門徒,對他們說:「我們不應該忽略傳上帝的道,去管理膳食。 弟兄姊妹,請從你們中間選出七位聲譽良好、被聖靈充滿、有智慧的人來負責膳食, 而我們要專心祈禱和傳道。」

大家一致同意,便選出充滿信心、被聖靈充滿的司提凡,此外還有腓利、伯羅哥羅、尼迦挪、提門、巴米拿,以及曾信過猶太教、來自安提阿的外族人尼哥拉。 大家將這七個人帶到使徒面前。使徒把手按在他們身上,為他們禱告。

上帝的道興旺起來,耶路撒冷的門徒大大增多,連許多祭司也皈信了。

司提凡被捕

司提凡得到極大的恩典和能力,在百姓中間行了驚人的神蹟奇事。 但有些來自古利奈、亞歷山大、基利迦和亞細亞、屬於「自由人[a]會堂」的猶太人聯合起來與司提凡辯論。 10 他們無法駁倒司提凡,因為他靠著智慧和聖靈說話。

11 於是,他們暗中唆使一些人誣告司提凡說:「我們聽見他說褻瀆摩西和上帝的話!」 12 又煽動百姓、長老和律法教師抓住司提凡,把他押到公會。 13 他們還派人作偽證說:「司提凡常常講侮辱聖地[b]和律法的話。 14 我們聽見他說那個拿撒勒人耶穌要毀壞聖殿,還要摒棄摩西傳給我們的規矩。」 15 在場的人都盯著司提凡,只見他的容貌好像天使一樣。

Footnotes

  1. 6·9 自由人」指的是原為奴隸,後來獲得自由的人。
  2. 6·13 聖地」指「聖殿」。

Seven Men Chosen for a Special Work

More and more people were becoming followers of Jesus. But during this same time, the Greek-speaking followers began to complain against the other Jewish followers. They said that their widows were not getting their share of what the followers received every day. The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together.

The apostles said to them, “It would not be right for us to give up our work of teaching God’s word in order to be in charge of getting food to people. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven of your men who have a good reputation. They must be full of wisdom and the Spirit. We will give them this work to do. Then we can use all our time to pray and to teach the word of God.”

The whole group liked the idea. So they chose these seven men: Stephen (a man with great faith and full of the Holy Spirit), Philip,[a] Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a man from Antioch who had become a Jew). Then they put these men before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.[b]

The word of God was reaching more and more people. The group of followers in Jerusalem became larger and larger. Even a big group of Jewish priests believed and obeyed.

Some Jews Against Stephen

Stephen received a great blessing. God gave him power to do great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. But some of the Jews there were from the synagogue of Free Men, as it was called. The group included Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. They started arguing with Stephen. 10 But the Spirit was helping him speak with wisdom. His words were so strong that these Jews could not argue with him.

11 So they told some men to say, “We heard Stephen say bad things against Moses and against God!” 12 By doing this, these Jews upset the people, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law. They became so angry that they came and grabbed Stephen and took him to a meeting of the high council.

13 The Jews brought some men into the meeting to tell lies about Stephen. These men said, “This man is always saying things against this holy place and against the Law of Moses. 14 We heard him say that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change what Moses told us to do.” 15 Everyone there in the council meeting was staring at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:5 Philip Not the apostle named Philip.
  2. Acts 6:6 laid their hands on them This act was a way of asking God to bless people in a special way—to heal them, to cause the Holy Spirit to come into them, or to give them power for a special work.

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.

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