WeekLy BooK oF Acts 6 1-15

 a paraphrased study

1 - In those  days when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists (greek believers) arose against the Hebrews because their widows, they said, were being neglected in the helpful distributions. 2 So the twelve summoned the full number of disciples and concerning the matter said, 3 “Pick out from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit of God and wisdom. And appoint them to this duty. 4 And then we apostles can continue to focus on prayer and the proclaiming and spreading of the message [logos]. 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering.

     The men they chose were Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert of Antioch. 6 And they brought them to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

     7 The word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. Even a great many of the priests became followers as well. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and God’s Spirit(/Presence), was doing wonderful signs and wonders among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the Freedmen, as they were called, made up of Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they couldn’t refute the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11 And so they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God!” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council/court, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak 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 the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And looking at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face shone like the face of an angel.

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