Acts 6
NASB
Acts 6:1
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Now at this time while the disciples were increasing {in number,} a complaint arose on the part of the (Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation) Hellenistic {Jews} against the {native} Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving {of food.}
Acts 6:2
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So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
Acts 6:3
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~"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
Acts 6:4
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~"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Acts 6:5
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The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a (I.e. a Gentile convert to Judaism) proselyte from Antioch.
Acts 6:6
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And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
Acts 6:7
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The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:8
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And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 6:9
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But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, {including} both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.
Acts 6:10
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But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
Acts 6:11
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Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and {against} God."
Acts 6:12
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And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.
Acts 6:13
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They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;
Acts 6:14
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for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."
Acts 6:15
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And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
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