Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

When Problems Arise In Serving The Needy In The Church, Deacons Are Chosen To Oversee It

6 Now during these days, while the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews^[a] because their widows were being overlooked^[b] in the daily ministry [of food]. ² And the twelve, having summoned the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not pleasing^[c] that we, having left-behind the word of God, should be serving tables^[d]. ³ But brothers, look-for^[e] seven men from-among you being attested, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put-in-charge^[f] over this need^[g]. ⁴ And we will devote-ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word”. ⁵ And the statement was pleasing in the sight of the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas (a proselyte from Antioch), ⁶ whom they stood before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷ And the word of God was growing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was being multiplied greatly. And a large crowd of the priests were obeying the faith.

You Always Resist God! Your Fathers Killed The Prophets, And You The Messiah

⁵¹ “Stiff-necked ones, and uncircumcised in your hearts and ears— you are always resisting^[a] the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, you also^[b] are doing. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed the ones having announced-beforehand about the coming of the righteous One, of Whom you now became^[c] betrayers^[d] and murderers— ⁵³ you who received the Law by the directions^[e] of ^[f] angels and did not keep it!”

Stephen Reports Seeing Jesus At The Right Hand of God. The Jews Stone Him To Death

⁵⁴ And hearing these things, they were infuriated in their hearts, and were grinding their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But being full of the Holy Spirit, having looked-intently into heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right side of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold— I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right side of God!” ⁵⁷ And having cried-out with a loud voice, they held-shut their ears, and rushed against him with-one-accord. ⁵⁸ And having driven him outside of the city, they were stoning him. And the witnesses laid-aside their garments at the feet of a young-man being called Saul. ⁵⁹ And they were stoning Stephen while he was calling-upon Jesus and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. ⁶⁰ And having put down his knees, he cried-out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not set this sin against them”. And having said this, he fell-asleep.