Act 6 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number , a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews , because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food .

Acts 6

Choosing of the Seven

1 Now ^{▼▼ Lit in these days}at this time while the ^bdisciples were ^cincreasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the ^{▼▼ Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
,} ^eHellenistic Jews against the native ^fHebrews, because their ^gwidows were being overlooked in ^hthe daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the ^{▼▼ Lit multitude}congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 “Therefore, ^jbrethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^kfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 “But we will ^ldevote ourselves to prayer and to the ^{▼▼ Or service}ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole ^{▼▼ Lit multitude}congregation; and they chose ^oStephen, a man ^pfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^qPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and ^{▼▼ Gr Nikolaos}Nicolas, a ^{▼▼ I.e. a Gentile convert to Judaism
,} ^tproselyte from ^uAntioch. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after ^vpraying, they ^wlaid their hands on them.

7 ^xThe word of God kept on spreading; and ^ythe number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^zthe faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great ^aawonders and ^{▼▼ Or attesting miracles}signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^acCyrenians and ^adAlexandrians, and some from ^aeCilicia and ^{▼▼ I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor
,} ^agAsia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they ^ahcame up to him and dragged him away and brought him ^{▼▼ Lit into}before ^ajthe ^{▼▼ Or Sanhedrin}Council. 13 They put forward ^alfalse witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this ^amholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that ^anthis Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter ^aothe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the ^{▼▼ Or Sanhedrin
,} ^aqCouncil saw his face like the face of an angel.