| 章 |
| 6:1 |
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.
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| 6:2 |
So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
|
| 6:3 |
"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
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| 6:4 |
"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
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| 6:5 |
The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
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| 6:6 |
And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
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| 6:7 |
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
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| 6:8 |
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
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| 6:9 |
But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.
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| 6:10 |
But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
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| 6:11 |
Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."
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| 6:12 |
And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.
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| 6:13 |
They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;
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| 6:14 |
for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."
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| 6:15 |
And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
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