The New American Standard Bible
Book of Acts	Click Verse Reference for Study Notes
6:1-15 - Study Chapter - Click the Play Button for Chapter Audio MediaPlayer
Search for Books & Bibles: Choosing of the Seven 1 Now at F142 this time while the disciples R284 were increasing R285 in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic R286 F143 Jews against the native Hebrews, R287 because their widows R288 were being overlooked in the R289 daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation F144 of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 "Therefore, brethren, R290 select from among you seven men of good reputation, full R291 of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 "But we will devote R292 ourselves to prayer and to the ministry F145 of the word." 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; F146 and they chose Stephen, R293 a man full R294 of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, R295 Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, F147 a proselyte R296 F148 from Antioch. R297 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, R298 they laid R299 their hands on them. 7 The R300 word of God kept on spreading; and the R301 number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the R302 faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders R303 and signs F149 among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians R304 and Alexandrians, R305 and some from Cilicia R306 and Asia, R307 F150 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 came R308 up to him and dragged him away and brought him before F151 the R309 Council. F152 13 They put forward false R310 witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy R311 place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this R312 Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the R313 customs which Moses handed down to us." 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council R314 F153 saw his face like the face of an angel.
FOOTNOTES: F142: Lit in these days F143: Jews who adopted the Greek language and much of Greek culture through acculturation F144: Lit multitude F145: Or service F146: Lit multitude F147: Greek Nikolaos F148: I.e. a Gentile convert to Judaism F149: Or attesting miracles F150: I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor F151: Lit into F152: Or Sanhedrin F153: Or Sanhedrin
CROSS REFERENCES: R284: Acts 11:26 R285: Acts 2:47; 6:7 R286: Acts 9:29; 11:20 R287: 2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5 R288: Acts 9:39,41; 1 Timothy 5:3 R289: Acts 4:35; 11:29 R290: John 21:23; Acts 1:15 R291: Acts 2:4 R292: Acts 1:14 R293: Acts 6:8; 11:19; 22:20 R294: Acts 6:3; 11:24 R295: Acts 8:5; 21:8 R296: Matthew 23:15 R297: Acts 11:19 R298: Acts 1:24 R299: Numbers 8:10; 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Mark 5:23; Acts 8:17; 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2 R300: Acts 12:24; 19:20 R301: Acts 6:1 R302: Acts 13:8; 14:22; Galatians 1:23; 6:10; Jude 1:3,20 R303: John 4:48 R304: Matthew 27:32; Acts 2:10 R305: Acts 18:24 R306: Acts 15:23,41; 21:39; 22:3; 23:34; 27:5; Galatians 1:21 R307: Acts 16:6; 19:10; 21:27; 24:18 R308: Luke 20:1; Acts 4:1 R309: Matthew 5:22 R310: Matthew 26:59-61; Acts 7:58 R311: Matthew 24:15; Acts 21:28; 25:8 R312: Matthew 26:61 R313: Acts 15:1; 21:21; 26:3; 28:17 R314: Matthew 5:22

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