The Appointment of the Seven
Study note
A complaint arises from the Greek-speaking Jewish believers that their widows are being overlooked in the daily food distribution. The twelve apostles recognize they should not neglect the word of God to manage practical needs, so they instruct the community to select seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The church chooses Stephen and six others, who are commissioned through prayer and the laying on of hands. The result is continued growth, including many Jewish priests coming to faith.
1 The number of believers kept growing. Then the Greek-speaking Jewish believers started complaining about the Hebrew-speaking ones. They said their widows were being skipped when food was given out each day. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 So the twelve apostles called everyone together. They said, "It would not be right for us to stop teaching God's word just to hand out food." Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 "This is what we should do, friends: pick seven men from your group who have a solid reputation, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and are full of wisdom. We will put them in charge of this job." Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 "That way, we can focus all our energy on prayer and on teaching the word." But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 Everyone liked this idea. They chose Stephen, who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who had become Jewish. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 They brought these seven men to the apostles, who prayed over them and placed their hands on them. Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 God's message kept spreading further and further. The number of believers in Jerusalem exploded, and even a large group of priests put their faith in Jesus. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
Study note
Stephen, full of faith and power, performs great wonders and miracles among the people. Members of a synagogue of freed slaves debate with him but cannot match his wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks. They secretly recruit false witnesses who accuse Stephen of speaking against Moses, God, the temple, and the law. When the council looks at Stephen, his face appears like the face of an angel.
8 Stephen was an incredible man, full of God's grace and power. He performed amazing wonders and miracles before everyone. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Some men from a group called the Synagogue of the Libertines got into arguments with Stephen. They were joined by people from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and Asia. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 But they were no match for the wisdom and the Spirit that Stephen spoke with. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 So they secretly paid some men to spread lies. These men claimed, "We heard Stephen say terrible things against Moses and against God." Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 This stirred up the people, the elders, and the religious teachers. They grabbed Stephen and hauled him before the council. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13 They brought in people who told lies about him. These false witnesses said, "This man will not stop attacking the temple and the law of Moses." And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 "We heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear down this temple and change the traditions that Moses gave us." For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15 Every member of the council stared at Stephen. And what they saw amazed them -- his face looked like the face of an angel. And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.