Acts 6

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

As the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased, Grecian Jews complained that their widows were neglected in the daily food distribution. The Twelve summoned the disciples and instructed them to select seven men of good standing to manage this task so the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The group chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, whom the apostles prayed over and appointed. Stephen performed great wonders and signs, leading to disputes with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. Unable to resist his wisdom, opponents prompted men to accuse him of blasphemy against Moses and God, stirring up the people, elders, and scribes to seize Stephen and bring him before the Sanhedrin with false witnesses.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ²So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them ⁴and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. ⁸Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen, ¹⁰but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. ¹¹Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” ¹²So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, ¹³where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.