選出七位執事

在那些日子裡,門徒增多。說希臘語的猶太人抱怨那些說希伯來語的猶太人,因為他們的寡婦在每日的服事[a]上被忽略了。 於是十二使徒[b]召來全體門徒,說:「我們撇下神的話語[c],去管理飯食,是不妥當的。 所以弟兄們,要從你們當中挑選七個有好名聲、充滿聖靈和智慧的人;我們就委任他們統管這事務。 這樣,我們將可專心於禱告和福音[d]的服事工作。」 這話使全體會眾都喜悅,於是選出了司提反——他是一個充滿信仰和聖靈的人,還有腓利普羅克羅尼卡諾提門帕米納,以及入猶太教的安提阿尼古拉斯 他們請這些人站在使徒們面前,使徒們就禱告,按手在他們身上。

這樣,神的話語[e]不斷擴展[f],在耶路撒冷門徒的人數大大增多,並且有一大群祭司也聽從了這信仰。

司提反被捕

司提反滿有恩惠[g]和能力,在民間行了許多大奇事和神蹟。 可是一些來自稱為「自由人」會堂的人,包括一些古利奈人、亞歷山大人,還有來自奇里乞亞省和亞細亞省的人,起來與司提反辯論, 10 司提反以智慧和聖靈說話,他們就抵擋不住。

11 於是他們暗中唆使人說:「我們聽過這個人針對摩西和神說褻瀆的話語。」 12 他們又煽動民眾、長老和經文士們就忽然來抓住司提反,把他帶到議會, 13 並且推出假見證人說:「這個人不斷地說褻瀆神的話語,反對這聖所[h]和律法[i] 14 我們曾聽到他說,這個拿撒勒人耶穌要拆毀這地方[j],也要改變摩西傳給我們的規矩。」 15 所有坐在議會裡的人都注視著司提反,看見他的面容好像天使的面容。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 6:1 服事——或譯作「供應」。
  2. 使徒行傳 6:2 使徒——輔助詞語。
  3. 使徒行傳 6:2 神的話語——或譯作「神的道」。
  4. 使徒行傳 6:4 福音——原文直譯「話語」或「道」。
  5. 使徒行傳 6:7 神的話語——或譯作「神的道」。
  6. 使徒行傳 6:7 擴展——原文直譯「生長」。
  7. 使徒行傳 6:8 恩惠——有古抄本作「信心」或「信仰」。
  8. 使徒行傳 6:13 聖所——或譯作「聖地」或「聖潔的地方」。
  9. 使徒行傳 6:13 說褻瀆神的話,反對這聖所和律法——有古抄本作「說反對這聖所和律法的話」。
  10. 使徒行傳 6:14 這地方——指「聖殿」。

Seven Chosen to Serve

In those days, as the disciples(A) were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.(B) The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, ‘It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation,(C) full of the Spirit(D) and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen,(E) a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.(F) They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed(G) and laid their hands on(H) them.

So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased(I) greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, ‘We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.’(J) 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also presented false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.(K) 14 For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.’(L) 15 And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

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