Acts 6:1-10

1 But in those days, the disciples multiplying in number, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration.
2 And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to [them], said, It is not right that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables.
3 Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of [the] [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business:
4 but *we* will give ourselves up to prayer and the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and, having prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought wonders and great signs among the people.
9 And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. * i.e. Greek Jews.
  • [b]. I apprehend that 'right,' 'proper,' is the sense; not merely that it did not please the apostles. 'Pleasing to God,' I understand, but used for man it is arbitrary.
  • [c]. Or 'great wonders and signs.'
  • [d]. Some translate 'Libertines,' referring it to Libertum, a city in Africa.
  • [e]. Or 'by' the Holy Spirit, but seen as in Stephen, that by which he spoke: 'which' refers grammatically to Spirit, but in sense to wisdom and Spirit both.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.