Act 6 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now at this time , as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed 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, as the ^bdisciples were ^cincreasing in number, a complaint developed 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 Instead, ^jbrothers and sisters, 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 ^{▼▼Lit word}announcement found approval with the whole ^{▼▼Lit multitude}congregation; and they chose ^pStephen, a man ^qfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^rPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and ^{▼▼Gr Nikolaos}Nicolas, a ^{▼▼I.e., a Gentile convert to Judaism
,} ^uproselyte from ^vAntioch. 6 And they brought these men before the apostles; and after ^wpraying, they ^xlaid their hands on them.

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

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great ^abwonders and ^{▼▼I.e., confirming miracles}signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^adCyrenians and ^aeAlexandrians, and some from ^afCilicia and ^{▼▼I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
,} ^ahAsia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to ^{▼▼Lit oppose}cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they ^ajcame up to him and dragged him away, and brought him ^{▼▼Lit into}before ^althe ^{▼▼Or Sanhedrin}Council. 13 They put forward ^anfalse witnesses who said, “This man does not stop ^{▼▼Lit speaking words}speaking against this ^apholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that ^aqthis Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change ^arthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the ^{▼▼Or Sanhedrin
,} ^atCouncil stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.