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Now de in en · ho these houtos days hēmera when the number of the ho disciples mathētēs was increasing plēthunō, there was ginomai a complaint gongysmos by the ho Hellenists Hellēnistēs against pros the ho Hebrews Hebraios because hoti their autos widows chēra were being neglected paratheōreō in en the ho daily kathēmerinos distribution diakonia of food. · ho · ho So de the ho twelve dōdeka called proskaleō together the ho entire group plēthos of ho disciples mathētēs and said legō, “ It is eimi not ou right arestos for us hēmeis to neglect kataleipō the ho word logos of ho God theos in order to wait diakoneō on tables trapeza. Therefore de, brothers adelphos, select episkeptomai from among ek you hymeis seven hepta men anēr of good standing martyreō, full plērēs of the Spirit pneuma and kai of wisdom sophia, whom hos we will appoint kathistēmi to epi carry out · ho this houtos responsibility chreia. But de we hēmeis will devote ourselves proskartereō to ho prayer proseuchē and kai to the ho ministry diakonia of the ho word logos.” And kai the ho proposal logos pleased areskō the ho entire pas group plēthos, so kai they chose eklegomai Stephen Stephanos, a man anēr full plērēs of faith pistis and kai of the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma; also kai Philip Philippos and kai Prochorus Prochoros and kai Nicanor Nikanōr and kai Timon Timōn and kai Parmenas Parmenas and kai Nicolaus Nikolaos, a proselyte prosēlytos of Antioch Antiocheus. These hos they set histēmi before enōpion the ho apostles apostolos, · kai who prayed proseuchomai and laid epitithēmi their ho hands cheir on them autos. And kai the ho word logos of ho God theos continued to spread auxanō, and kai the ho number arithmos of ho disciples mathētēs increased plēthunō greatly sphodra in en Jerusalem Ierousalēm, and te a large polys group ochlos of ho priests hiereus became obedient hypakouō to the ho faith pistis.

And de Stephen Stephanos, full plērēs of grace charis and kai power dynamis, was doing poieō great megas wonders teras and kai signs sēmeion among en the ho people laos. But de there rose anistēmi up some tis of those ho of ek the ho synagogue synagōgē of the ho Freedmen Libertinos ( as it was called legō), both kai Cyrenians Kyrēnaios and kai Alexandrians Alexandreus, as kai well as those ho from apo Cilicia Kilikia and kai Asia Asia, disputing syzēteō with · ho Stephen Stephanos. 10 Yet kai they could ischuō not ou withstand anthistēmi the ho wisdom sophia and kai the ho Spirit pneuma with which hos he was speaking laleō. 11 Then tote they secretly talked hypoballō some men anēr into saying legō, “ We have heard akouō him autos speak laleō blasphemous blasphēmos words rhēma against eis Moses Mōysēs and kai · ho God theos.” 12 And te they incited synkineō the ho people laos and kai the ho elders presbyteros and kai the ho scribes grammateus, and kai they suddenly ephistēmi moved in and seized synarpazō him autos and kai brought agō him before eis the ho council synedrion, 13 and te they set histēmi up false pseudēs witnesses martys who said legō, · ho This houtos man anthrōpos does not ou stop pauō saying laleō words rhēma against kata · ho this houtos holy hagios place topos · ho and kai the ho law nomos, 14 for gar we have heard akouō him autos say legō that hoti this houtos Jesus Iēsous the ho Nazarene Nazōraios will destroy katalyō · ho this houtos place topos and kai will change allassō the ho customs ethos that hos Moses Mōysēs handed down paradidōmi to us hēmeis.” 15 And kai everyone pas who ho was sitting kathezomai in en the ho council synedrion, looking atenizō intently at eis him autos, saw · ho his autos face prosōpon like hōsei the face prosōpon of an angel angelos.

Choosing of the Seven

Now about this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint was made by the [a]Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the [[b]native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the [c]Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food. Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men with good reputations [men of godly character and moral integrity], full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will [continue to] devote ourselves [steadfastly] to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The suggestion pleased the whole congregation; and they selected [d]Stephen, a man full of faith [in Christ Jesus], and [filled with and led by] the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (Nikolaos), a proselyte (Gentile convert) from Antioch. They brought these men before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them [to dedicate and commission them for this service].

And the message of God kept on growing and spreading, and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem; and a large number of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith [accepting Jesus as Messiah and acknowledging Him as the Source of eternal salvation].

Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people. However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and [the province of] Asia, rose up and questioned and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were not able to successfully withstand and cope with the wisdom and the intelligence [and the power and inspiration] of the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then [to attack him another way] they secretly instructed men to say, “We have heard this man [Stephen] speak blasphemous (slanderous, sacrilegious, abusive) words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they provoked and incited the people, as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came up to Stephen and seized him and brought him before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). 13 They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law [of Moses]; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and will change the traditions and customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 Then all those who were sitting in the Council, stared [intently] at him, and they saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Jews born outside the Holy Land who spoke the Greek language and had adopted much of the Greek culture.
  2. Acts 6:1 Native-born Jews who spoke Hebrew and/or Aramaic and lived according to Jewish custom.
  3. Acts 6:2 See note Matt 10:2.
  4. Acts 6:5 These seven men had Greek names, so they may have been Greek in ancestry, language, or way of life; however, Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin (ch 7), exhibited an extensive knowledge of Jewish history.