Acts 5:33-6:7

New American Standard Bible

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(A)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(B)Gamaliel, a ^(C)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(D)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For, some time ago Theudas appeared, ^(E)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. ^[a]But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of ^(F)the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or ^[b]movement ^(G)is men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(H)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(I)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[c]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[d](J)Council, ^(K)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(L)for His name. ^42 (M)And every day, in the temple and ^[e]from house to house, they did not stop teaching and ^(N)preaching the good news of Jesus as the ^[f]Christ.

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now ^[g]at this time, as the ^(O)disciples were ^(P)increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the ^[h](Q)Hellenistic Jews against the native ^(R)Hebrews, because their ^(S)widows were being overlooked in ^(T)the daily serving of food. ² So the twelve summoned the ^[i]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Instead, ^(U)brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^(V)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴ But we will ^(W)devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^[j]ministry of the word.” ⁵ The ^[k]announcement found approval with the whole ^[l]congregation; and they chose ^(X)Stephen, a man ^(Y)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^(Z)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and ^[m]Nicolas, a ^[n](AA)proselyte from ^(AB)Antioch. ⁶ And they brought these men before the apostles; and after ^(AC)praying, they ^(AD)laid their hands on them.

^7 (AE)The word of God kept spreading; and ^(AF)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^(AG)the faith.