They Appoint 7 Apostles to Feed the Widows, but Stephen is Seized |
Acts 6:1-15 The Acts of the Apostles [in Smaller Chunks] |
And [during] those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose [grumbling by] the Grecians, [a.k.a. Greek-speaking Jews, or Jews scattered among the Gentiles,] against the Hebrews, [a.k.a. Jews, who used their native language.] Because their widows were neglected in the daily [distribution of food.] |
Then, the 12 called the multitude of disciples to them, & said, It isn't [reasonable] that we would leave [preaching] the Word of God, & serve tables. [For this reason,] brethren, [a.k.a. fellow-believers,] look out among [yourselves] [& find] 7 men [reported] [to be] honest, & full of the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit,] & wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. |
But we will give, [a.k.a. focus,] ourselves continually to prayer, & to the ministry of the Word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith & [full] of the Holy Ghost; and Philip; Prochorus; Nicanor; Timon; Parmenas; & Nicolas, a [convert from] Antioch. |
[These are] whom they [put in front of] the apostles. And when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. [Numbers 8:10-11 And you [shall] bring the Levites before the Lord. And the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites. And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering [from] the children of Israel, [so] that they may execute, [a.k.a. carryout,] the service of the Lord.] |
And the Word of God [spread;] & the number of disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. And a [large multitude] of priests were obedient to the faith. [Romans 1:3-5 *[About God's] Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, [Who] was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh; & *declared to be the Son of God, with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead, by Whom we have received grace & apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His Name.] |
And Stephen, full of faith & power, did great wonders & miracles among the people. Then, there arose [some:] Cyrenians, Alexandrians, & [those from] Cilicia, & Asia, disputing with Stephen, [from] the synagogue, called the synagogue of the Libertines, [a.k.a. Freedmen.] |
And they weren't able to resist, [a.k.a. go against,] the wisdom & the Spirit by which [Stephen spoke.] Then, they [unscrupulous] men, [who] said, We have heard [Stephen] speak blasphemous words against Moses, & against God. And they stirred up the people, elders, & scribes, & came [up on Stephen,] & caught, [a.k.a. seized] him, & brought him to the council. |
And set up false witnesses, [who] said, This man [doesn't cease] to speak blasphemous words against this Holy Place, & the Law. For we have heard [Stephen] say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, & shall change the customs which Moses delivered [to] us. [Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, [a.k.a. Holy Spirit,] & with power. [Who] went [around] doing good, & healing all [who] were oppressed [by] the devil; for God was with Him.] |
And all [who] sat in the council, [looked steadily at Stephen,] & saw his face, [like] it had been the face of an angel. |