Acts
Chapter 6
Overview
The community of Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem is growing quickly, and growth brings a very ordinary problem: some vulnerable people are being missed. The Greek-speaking and Aramaic-speaking Jewish believers come from different language backgrounds, so unequal treatment can easily feel personal. The twelve apostles respond by sharing responsibility instead of trying to do everything themselves. Seven trusted men are chosen to manage practical care while the apostles focus on prayer and teaching. Then attention turns to Stephen, whose wisdom and remarkable deeds draw both admiration and fierce opposition, leading him before the Jewish high council.
1During this time, as the number of disciples kept growing, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained against the Aramaic-speaking Jewish believers. They said that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2So the twelve apostles called the whole group of disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect God’s message in order to manage the distribution of food.
3Choose seven men from among you, brothers and sisters. They must be respected and full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint them to take responsibility for this work.
4We will devote ourselves to prayer and to teaching God’s message.”
5The whole group was pleased with this proposal. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who had converted to Judaism.
6The group presented these men to the apostles. The apostles prayed and placed their hands on them to appoint them for the work.
7God’s message continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly. A large number of Jewish priests also accepted this faith and lived by it.
8Stephen was full of God’s grace and power, and he performed great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
9But some members of the synagogue known as the Synagogue of the Freedmen began arguing with Stephen. They included people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as people from the Roman provinces of Cilicia and Asia.
10Yet they could not stand against the wisdom and the Spirit that enabled Stephen to speak.
11So they secretly prompted some men to say, “We heard him speak insulting words against Moses and God.”
12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law. Then they confronted Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the Jewish high council.
13They brought forward false witnesses, who said, “This man never stops speaking against this sacred temple and the Law of Moses.
14We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15Everyone sitting on the council stared at Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.