Acts 6:1-15
6 Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing, a murmuring arose on the part of the Greek-speaking+ Jews* against the Hebrew-speaking Jews,* because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.*+
2 So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said: “It is not pleasing for us to leave the word of God to distribute [food]* to tables.+
3 So, brothers, search out+ for yourselves seven certified men from among YOU, full of spirit and wisdom,+ that we may appoint them over this necessary business;
4 but we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”+
5 And the thing spoken was pleasing to the whole multitude, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit,+ and Philip+ and Prochʹo·rus and Ni·caʹnor and Tiʹmon and Parʹme·nas and Nic·o·laʹus, a proselyte of Antioch;
6 and they placed them before the apostles, and, after having prayed, these laid their hands+ upon them.
7 Consequently the word of God went on growing,+ and the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much;+ and a great crowd of priests+ began to be obedient+ to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, full of graciousness and power, was performing great portents and signs+ among the people.
9 But certain men rose up of those from the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen,* and of the Cy·reʹni·ans and Alexandrians+ and of those from Ci·liʹcia+ and Asia, to dispute with Stephen;
10 and yet they could not hold their own against the wisdom+ and the spirit with which he was speaking.+
11 Then they secretly induced men to say:+ “We have heard him speaking blasphemous+ sayings against Moses and God.”
12 And they stirred up the people and the older men* and the scribes, and, coming upon him suddenly, they took him by force and led him to the Sanʹhe·drin.+
13 And they brought forward false witnesses,+ who said: “This man does not stop speaking things against this holy place and against the Law.+
14 For instance, we have heard him say that this Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ will throw down this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15 And as all those sitting in the Sanʹhe·drin gazed at him,+ they saw that his face was as an angel’s face.+
Footnotes
^ Lit., “of the Hellenists.” Gr., ton Hel·le·ni·stonʹ; Lat., Grae·coʹrum.
^ Lit., “the Hebrews.” Gr., tous E·braiʹous; Lat., He·braeʹos.
^ Or, “in the . . . ministration.” Gr., en tei di·a·ko·niʹai; Lat., in mi·ni·steʹri·o.
^ Or, “to be ministering.” Gr., di·a·ko·neinʹ; Lat., mi·ni·straʹre.
^ Lit., “Libertines.” Arm, “Libyans.”
^ “Older men.” Or, “elders.” Gr., pre·sby·teʹrous.
