In
those days the number of Disciples was increasing,
The
Grecian Jews among them
Complained
against those of the Aramaic-speaking community
Because
their Widows were being overlooked
In
the Daily Distribution of food.
2
So the Twelve gathered all the Disciples together and said,
'IT
WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR US
TO
NEGLECT THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD
IN
ORDER TO WAIT ON TABLES.
3
BROTHERS, CHOOSE SEVEN MEN FROM AMONG YOU
WHO
ARE KNOWN TO BE FULL OF THE SPIRIT AND WISDOM.
WE
WILL TURN THIS RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO THEM
4
AND WILL GIVE OUR ATTENTION TO PRAYER
AND
THE FMINISTRY OF THE WORD.'
This
Proposal pleased the Whole Group.
They
chose Stephen,
A
man Full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit;
Also
Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
And
Nicolas from Antioch,
A
Convert to Judaism.
6
THEY PRESENTED THESE MEN TO THE APOSTLES,
WHO
PRAYED AND LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM.
7
SO THE WORD OF GOD SPREAD.
THE
NUMBER OF DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM
INCREASED
RAPIDLY,
AND
A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIESTS
BECAME
OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH.
Stephen
Seized
8
NOW STEPHEN,
A
MAN FULL OF GOD'S GRACE AND POWER,
DID
GREAT WONDERS AND MIRACULOUS SIGNS
AMONG
THE PEOPLE.
9
Opposition arose, however,
From
members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen
(As
it was called)--
Jews
of Cyrene and Alexandria
As
well as the Provinces of Cilicia and Asia.
THESE
MEN BEGAN TO ARGUE WITH STEPHEN,
10
BUT THEY COULD NOT STAND UP
AGAINST
HIS WISDOM
OR
THE SPIRIT BY WHICH HE SPOKE.
11Then
they Secretly Persuaded some men to say,
'WE
HAVE HEARD STEPHEN SPEAK WORDS OF BLASPHEMY
AGAINST
MOSES AND AGAINST GOD.'
12
SO THEY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE
AND
THE ELDERS AND THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW.
They
Seized Stephen
And
brought him before the Sanhedrin.
13
THEY PRODUCED FALSE WITNESSES,
WHO
TESTIFIED,
'THIS
FELLOW NEVER STOPS SPEAKING
AGAINST
THE HOLY PLACE
AND
AGAINST THE LAW.
For
we have heard him say
That
this Jesus of Nazareth
Will
Destroy this place
And
change the customs Moses handed down to us.'
15
ALL WHO WERE SITTING IN THE SANHEDRIN
LOOKED
INTENTLY AT STEPHEN,
AND
THEY SAW THAT HIS FACE
WAS
LIKE THE FACE OF AND ANGEL.
(Acts
6)
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