Acts 6 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now [a]at this time while the (A)disciples were (B)increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the [b](C)Hellenistic Jews against the native (D)Hebrews, because their (E)widows were being overlooked in (F)the daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the [c]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Therefore, (G)brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, (H)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will (I)devote ourselves to prayer and to the [d]ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole [e]congregation; and they chose (J)Stephen, a man (K)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and (L)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and [f]Nicolas, a [g](M)proselyte from (N)Antioch. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after (O)praying, they (P)laid their hands on them.

7 (Q)The word of God kept on spreading; and (R)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to (S)the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great (T)wonders and [h]signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both (U)Cyrenians and (V)Alexandrians, and some from (W)Cilicia and [i](X)Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they (Y)came up to him and dragged him away and brought him [j]before (Z)the [k]Council. 13 They put forward (AA)false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this (AB)holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that (AC)this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter (AD)the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the [l](AE)Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Lit in these days
  2. Acts 6:1 Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
  3. Acts 6:2 Lit multitude
  4. Acts 6:4 Or service
  5. Acts 6:5 Lit multitude
  6. Acts 6:5 Gr Nikolaos
  7. Acts 6:5 I.e. a Gentile convert to Judaism
  8. Acts 6:8 Or attesting miracles
  9. Acts 6:9 I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 6:12 Lit into
  11. Acts 6:12 Or Sanhedrin
  12. Acts 6:15 Or Sanhedrin

Cross references

  1. Acts 6:1 : Acts 11:26
  2. Acts 6:1 : Acts 2:47; 6:7
  3. Acts 6:1 : Acts 9:29; 11:20
  4. Acts 6:1 : 2 Cor 11:22; Phil 3:5
  5. Acts 6:1 : Acts 9:39, 41; 1 Tim 5:3
  6. Acts 6:1 : Acts 4:35; 11:29
  7. Acts 6:3 : John 21:23; Acts 1:15
  8. Acts 6:3 : Acts 2:4
  9. Acts 6:4 : Acts 1:14
  10. Acts 6:5 : Acts 6:8ff; 11:19; 22:20
  11. Acts 6:5 : Acts 6:3; 11:24
  12. Acts 6:5 : Acts 8:5ff; 21:8
  13. Acts 6:5 : Matt 23:15
  14. Acts 6:5 : Acts 11:19
  15. Acts 6:6 : Acts 1:24
  16. Acts 6:6 : Num 8:10; 27:18; Deut 34:9; Mark 5:23; Acts 8:17ff; 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Heb 6:2
  17. Acts 6:7 : Acts 12:24; 19:20
  18. Acts 6:7 : Acts 6:1
  19. Acts 6:7 : Acts 13:8; 14:22; Gal 1:23; 6:10; Jude 3, 20
  20. Acts 6:8 : John 4:48
  21. Acts 6:9 : Matt 27:32; Acts 2:10
  22. Acts 6:9 : Acts 18:24
  23. Acts 6:9 : Acts 15:23, 41; 21:39; 22:3; 23:34; 27:5; Gal 1:21
  24. Acts 6:9 : Acts 16:6; 19:10; 21:27; 24:18
  25. Acts 6:12 : Luke 20:1; Acts 4:1
  26. Acts 6:12 : Matt 5:22
  27. Acts 6:13 : Matt 26:59-61; Acts 7:58
  28. Acts 6:13 : Matt 24:15; Acts 21:28; 25:8
  29. Acts 6:14 : Matt 26:61
  30. Acts 6:14 : Acts 15:1; 21:21; 26:3; 28:17
  31. Acts 6:15 : Matt 5:22

You Might Also Like:

Acts 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, 2 and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, `It is not pleasing that we, having left the word ...
Read More

Acts 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 But in those days, when the number of disciples increased, the Greeks grumbled against the Hebrews [grutching of Greeks was made against Hebrews], for that their widows were despised in every day's ministering. 2 And the twelve called together the multitude of disciples, and said, It is not right...
Read More

Acts 6 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

6 At that time more and more people joined the disciples. Then there was trouble about a certain matter. The Jews who spoke the Greek language complained against the other Jews. They said that each day when the food was being divided, their women whose husbands were dead did not get their part. 2 Th...
Read More

Acts 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists[a] against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the ...
Read More

Acts 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

These emissaries of Jesus inspire us with their passion to serve Jesus and advance the gospel in the face of torture and abuse. After a night in prison and a public flogging, they moved forward with smiles on their faces. Believers in the Western church often enjoy the benefits of social and politic...
Read More

Acts 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Appointed for Service6 Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose[a] among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support. 2 So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right fo...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists[a] murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up ...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up pre...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

6 And in those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose murmuring of the Hellenists toward the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, “It is not acceptable that we should leave...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Problems of Family Living6 Around that time, as the number of disciples increased, the ‘Hellenists’ raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews’ because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called the whole crowd of disciples together.‘Listen,’ they said. ‘It...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.(A)2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused. 6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Seven Men Chosen to Serve6 But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Church Leaders Are Chosen6 In those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was give...
Read More

Acts 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in those days, (A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (B)Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected (C)in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (...
Read More