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Acts 6
A logistics problem exposes a fault line: Greek-speaking widows are being skipped in the daily food distribution while the Hebrew-speaking ones are served. The Twelve refuse to abandon preaching to wait tables, so seven trusted men, including Stephen, are chosen and prayed over. Watch the names in verse 5 — every one is Greek, the very group that had complained. Then watch Stephen outgrow the assignment: a food administrator starts working signs and silencing a synagogue, until false witnesses drag him before the council and his face shines like an angel's.
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Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists 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 word of God and serve tables.
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Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
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But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
- 5
These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,
- 6
whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
- 7
The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
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But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.
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They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
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Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
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They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council,
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and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- 14
For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.”
- 15
All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
- 1
EN aquellos días, creciendo el número de los discípulos, hubo murmuración de los Griegos contra los Hebreos, de que sus viudas eran menospreciadas en el ministerio cotidiano.
- 2
Así que, los doce convocaron la multitud de los discípulos, y dijeron: No es justo que nosotros dejemos la palabra de Dios, y sirvamos á las mesas.
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Buscad pues, hermanos, siete varones de vosotros de buen testimonio, llenos de Espíritu Santo y de sabiduría, los cuales pongamos en esta obra.
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Y nosotros persistiremos en la oración, y en el ministerio de la palabra.
- 5
Y plugo el parecer á toda la multitud; y eligieron á Esteban, varón lleno de fe y de Espíritu Santo, y á Felipe, y á Prócoro, y á Nicanor, y á Timón, y á Parmenas, y á Nicolás, prosélito de Antioquía:
- 6
A estos presentaron delante de los apóstoles, los cuales orando les pusieron las manos encima.
- 7
Y crecía la palabra del Señor, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba mucho en Jerusalem: también una gran multitud de los sacerdotes obedecía á la fe.
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Empero Esteban, lleno de gracia y de potencia, hacía prodigios y milagros grandes en el pueblo.
- 9
Levantáronse entonces unos de la sinagoga que se llama de los Libertinos, y Cireneos, y Alejandrinos, y de los de Cilicia, y de Asia, disputando con Esteban.
- 10
Mas no podían resistir á la sabiduría y al Espíritu con que hablaba.
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Entonces sobornaron á unos que dijesen que le habían oído hablar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y Dios.
- 12
Y conmovieron al pueblo, y á los ancianos, y á los escribas; y arremetiendo le arrebataron, y le trajeron al concilio.
- 13
Y pusieron testigos falsos, que dijesen: Este hombre no cesa de hablar palabras blasfemas contra este lugar santo y la ley:
- 14
Porque le hemos oído decir, que este Jesús de Nazaret destruirá este lugar, y mudará las ordenanzas que nos dió Moisés.
- 15
Entonces todos los que estaban sentados en el concilio, puestos los ojos en él, vieron su rostro como el rostro de un ángel.
From serving tables to facing the council
The charge against Stephen is engineered, not real: he is accused of speaking against "this holy place and the law," with the specific claim that Jesus would destroy the temple and change Moses' customs (v.13-14). It echoes the accusation made against Jesus himself.
This sets up the longest speech in Acts, which follows in chapter 7. The detail that Saul will guard the executioners' coats is still chapters away, but the conflict between the temple establishment and the new movement is already lit here.
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