Bible Gateway passage: Acts 6 - New International Version (2024)

The Choosing of the Seven

6In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,^(A) the Hellenistic Jews^[a](B) among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows^(C) were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.^{(D) 2}So the Twelve gathered all the disciples^(E) together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God^(F) in order to wait on tables. ³Brothers and sisters,^(G) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit^(H) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them^{(I) 4}and will give our attention to prayer^(J) and the ministry of the word.”

⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,^(K) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;^(L) also Philip,^(M) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed^(N) and laid their hands on them.^(O)

⁷So the word of God spread.^(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,^(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

⁸Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^(R) among the people. ⁹Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^(S) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^(T) and Asia^(U)—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^(V)

¹¹Then they secretly^(W) persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^(X)

¹²So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^{(Y) 13}They produced false witnesses,^(Z) who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^(AA) and against the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^(AB) and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^(AC)

¹⁵All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin^(AD) looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Cross references

1. Acts 6:1 : S Ac 2:41
2. Acts 6:1 : Ac 9:29
3. Acts 6:1 : Ac 9:39, 41; 1Ti 5:3
4. Acts 6:1 : Ac 4:35
5. Acts 6:2 : S Ac 11:26
6. Acts 6:2 : S Heb 4:12
7. Acts 6:3 : S Ac 1:16
8. Acts 6:3 : S Lk 1:15
9. Acts 6:3 : Ex 18:21; Ne 13:13
10. Acts 6:4 : S Ac 1:14
11. Acts 6:5 : ver 8; Ac 7:55-60; 11:19; 22:20
12. Acts 6:5 : S Lk 1:15
13. Acts 6:5 : Ac 8:5-40; 21:8
14. Acts 6:6 : S Ac 1:24
15. Acts 6:6 : Nu 8:10; 27:18; Ac 9:17; 19:6; 28:8; 1Ti 4:14; S Mk 5:23
16. Acts 6:7 : Ac 12:24; 19:20
17. Acts 6:7 : S Ac 2:41
18. Acts 6:8 : S Jn 4:48
19. Acts 6:9 : S Mt 27:32
20. Acts 6:9 : Ac 15:23, 41; 22:3; 23:34
21. Acts 6:9 : S Ac 2:9
22. Acts 6:10 : Lk 21:15
23. Acts 6:11 : 1Ki 21:10
24. Acts 6:11 : Mt 26:59-61
25. Acts 6:12 : S Mt 5:22
26. Acts 6:13 : Ex 23:1; Ps 27:12
27. Acts 6:13 : Mt 24:15; Ac 7:48; 21:28
28. Acts 6:14 : S Jn 2:19
29. Acts 6:14 : Ac 15:1; 21:21; 26:3; 28:17
30. Acts 6:15 : S Mt 5:22