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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.

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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].

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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.