Acts 6:1-9

The Choosing of the Seven

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews^[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews 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 and sisters, 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 ministry of the word.”

5 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, performed great wonders and 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—who began to argue with Stephen.

Cross References

• 1. S Acts 2:41
• 2. Acts 9:29
• 3. Acts 9:39,41; 1 Timothy 5:3
• 4. Acts 4:35
• 5. S Acts 11:26
• 6. S Hebrews 4:12
• 7. S Acts 1:16
• 8. S Luke 1:15
• 9. Exodus 18:21; Nehemiah 13:13
• 10. S Acts 1:14
• 11. ver 8; Acts 7:55-60; Acts 11:19; Acts 22:20
• 12. S Luke 1:15; Acts 11:24
• 13. Acts 8:5-40; Acts 21:8
• 14. S Acts 1:24; Acts 8:17; Acts 13:3; 2 Timothy 1:6
• 15. Numbers 8:10; Numbers 27:18; Acts 9:17; Acts 19:6; Acts 28:8; 1 Timothy 4:14; S Mark 5:23
• 16. Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20
• 17. S Acts 2:41
• 18. S John 4:48
• 19. S Matthew 27:32
• 20. Acts 15:23,41; Acts 22:3; Acts 23:34
• 21. S Acts 2:9

Footnotes

• [a] That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture