Acts 6
New Life Version
Church Leaders Are Chosen
6 In those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was given out each day. 2 So the twelve missionaries called a meeting of the many followers and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to hand out food. 3 Brothers, choose from among you seven men who are respected and who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will have them take care of this work. 4 Then we will use all of our time to pray and to teach the Word of God.”
5 These words pleased all of them. They chose Stephen who was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas of Antioch who had become a Jew. 6 These men were taken to the missionaries. After praying, the missionaries laid their hands on them.
7 The Word of God spread further. The group of followers became much larger in Jerusalem. Many of the religious leaders believed in the faith of the Christians.
Stephen Is Brought in Front of the Religious Leaders’ Court
8 Stephen was a man full of faith and power. He did many great things among the people. 9 But some men came from their place of worship who were known as the Free people. They started to argue with Stephen. These men were from the countries of Cyrene and Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia. 10 Stephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said. 11 So they told other men to say, “We have heard him say things against Moses and God.” 12 In this way they got the people talking against Stephen. The leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came and took him to the religious leaders’ court. 13 The people were told to lie and say, “This man keeps on talking against this place of worship and the Law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is going to pull down this place. He is going to change what Moses taught us.’”
15 The men sitting in the religious leaders’ court were looking at Stephen. They all saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.
使徒行传 6
Chinese Standard Bible (Simplified)
选出七位执事
6 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。 2 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。 3 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。 4 这样，我们将可专心于祷告和福音[d]的服事工作。” 5 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人尼古拉斯。 6 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。
7 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
8 司提反满有恩惠[g]和能力，在民间行了许多大奇事和神迹。 9 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 但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。
使徒行传 6
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
选出七位执事
6 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。 2 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。 3 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。 4 至于我们，我们要专心祈祷、传道。” 5 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， 6 叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告后，就为他们按手。 7 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
8 司提反满有恩惠能力，在民间施行大奇事和神迹。 9 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。
Acts 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 1 The Apostles, 3 appoint the office of Deaconship, 5 to seven chosen men: 8 Of whom Stephen, full of faith, is one: 12 He is taken, 13 and accused as a transgressor of Moses’ Law.
1 And [a]in those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a murmuring of the [b]Grecians towards the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the [c]daily ministering.
2 [d]Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, It is not [e]meet that we should leave the word of God to serve the [f]tables.
3 [g]Wherefore brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, and full of the holy Ghost, and of wisdom, which we may appoint to this business.
4 And we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministration of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost, and (A)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a Proselyte of Antioch,
6 [h]Which they set before the Apostles: and they prayed, and [i]laid their hands on them.
7 [j]And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the [k]faith.
8 ¶ [l]Now Stephen full of faith and [m]power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 [n]Then there arose certain of the [o]Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, and disputed with Stephen.
10 [p]But they were not able to resist the wisdom, and the Spirit by the which he spake.
11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and God.
12 [q]Thus they moved the people and the Elders, and the Scribes: and running upon him, caught him, and brought him to the Council,
13 [r]And set forth 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 ordinances which Moses gave us.
15 And as all that sat in the Council looked steadfastly on him, they [s]saw his face as it had been the face of an Angel.
Footnotes
- Acts 6:1 When Satan has assailed the Church without, and that to small purpose and in vain, he assaileth it within, with civil dissension and strife betwixt themselves: but the Apostles take occasion thereby to set order in the Church.
- Acts 6:1 Of their parts which of Grecians became religious Jews.
- Acts 6:1 In the bestowing of alms according to their necessity.
- Acts 6:2 The office of preaching the word and dispensing the goods of the Church, are different one from another, and not rashly to be joined together, as the Apostles do here institute: And the Apostles do not choose so much as the Deacons without the consent of the Church.
- Acts 6:2 It is such a matter, as we may in no wise accept of it.
- Acts 6:2 Banquets though by the name of tables, other offices are also meant, which are annexed to it, such as pertain to the care of the poor.
- Acts 6:3 In choosing of Deacons (and much more of Ministers) there must be examination both of their learning and manners of life.
- Acts 6:6 The ancient Church did with laying on of hands, as it were consecrate to the Lord, such as were lawfully elected.
- Acts 6:6 This ceremony of laying on of hands came from the Jews, who used this order both in public affairs, and offering of sacrifices, and also in private prayers and blessings, as appeareth Gen. 28, and the Church observed this ceremony, 1 Tim. 5:22; Acts 8:17, but here is no mention made either of cream, or shaving, or raising, or crossing, etc.
- Acts 6:7 An happy end of temptation.
- Acts 6:7 This is the figure Metonymy, meaning by faith, the doctrine of the Gospel which engendereth faith.
- Acts 6:8 God exerciseth his Church first with evil words and slanders, then with imprisonments, afterward with scourgings, and by these means prepareth it in such sort, that at length he causeth it to encounter with Satan and the world, even to bloodshed and death, and that with good success.
- Acts 6:8 Excellent and singular gifts.
- Acts 6:9 Schools and Universities were of old time addicted to false pastors, and were the instruments of Satan to blow abroad and defend false doctrines.
- Acts 6:9 Of the company and College as it were.
- Acts 6:10 False teachers, because they will not be overcome, flee from disputations to manifest and open slandering and false accusations.
- Acts 6:12 The first bloody persecution of the Church of Christ began and sprang from a Council of Priests by the suggestion of the University doctors.
- Acts 6:13 An example of cavillers or false accusers, which gather false conclusions of things that are well uttered and spoken.
- Acts 6:15 Hereby it appeareth that Stephen had an excellent and goodly countenance, having a quiet and settled mind, a good conscience, and sure persuasion that his cause was just: for seeing he was to speak before the people, God beautified his countenance, to the end that with the very beholding of him, the Jews’ minds might be pierced and amazed.
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