Acts 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

1 Now in these days k when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists 1 arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in l the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 m Therefore, brothers, 2 pick out from among you seven men n of good repute, o full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But p we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, q a man full of faith and r of the Holy Spirit, and s Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, t a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and u they prayed and v laid their hands on them.

7 And w the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests x became obedient to y the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

8 And Stephen, full of grace and z power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But a they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then b they secretly instigated men who said, "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, 13 and they c set up false d witnesses who said, "This man never ceases to speak words against e this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth f will destroy this place and will g change h the customs that Moses delivered to us." 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face i was like the face of an angel.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 2:41
    So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
    Acts 2:47
    Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
    Acts 4:4
    But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
    Acts 5:14
    And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
    Acts 6:7
    And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 4:35
    And laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:13
    Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.
  4. Cross References
    1 Timothy 3:7
    Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 6:5
    And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
    Acts 7:55
    But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
    Acts 11:24
    For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
    Luke 1:15
    For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
    Luke 4:1
    And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
  6. Cross References
    Acts 1:14
    All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
  7. Cross References
    Acts 11:24
    For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 6:3
    Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 8:5
    Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
    Acts 21:8
    On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 2:11
    Both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians - we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.
    Acts 13:43
    And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
    Matthew 23:15
    Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 1:24
    And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
    Acts 13:3
    Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
  12. Cross References
    1 Timothy 4:14
    Do not neglect the gift you have, which was giv...
    1 Timothy 5:22
    Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor ...
    2 Timothy 1:6
    For this reason I remind you to fan into flame ...
    Acts 8:17
    Then they laid their hands on them and they rec...
    Acts 9:17
    So Ananias departed and entered the house. And ...
    Acts 19:6
    And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the H...
    Hebrews 6:2
    And of instruction about washings, the laying o...
  13. Cross References
    Acts 12:24
    But the word of God increased and multiplied.
    Acts 19:20
    So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
    Colossians 1:5 - 6
    Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.
  14. Cross References
    Romans 1:5
    Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 13:8
    But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
    Acts 16:5
    So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 1:8
    But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
  17. Cross References
    Luke 21:14 - 15
    Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer.
  18. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:10
    And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death.
    1 Kings 21:13
    And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.
    Matthew 26:59 - 60
    Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 6:11
    Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 7:58
    Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
  21. Cross References
    Acts 21:28
    Crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.
    Acts 25:8
    Paul argued in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.
    Matthew 24:15
    So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand).
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 9:26
    And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
    Matthew 26:61
    And said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.'
  23. Cross References
    Matthew 5:17
    Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 15:1
    But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
    Acts 21:21
    And they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 13:6
    Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name.
    Ecclesiastes 8:1
    Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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