Skip to the text

Acts · Free Bible Version

Acts 6 Free Bible Version

Leer en español
About FBV
  • Individual translator
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew
  • NT: Critical text
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Dynamic (thought for thought)
  • 2018
  • CC BY-SA 4.0

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

FBV Free Bible Version
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 At this time, when the number of believers was increasing rapidly, the Greek-speaking believers started arguing with the Aramaic-speaking believers. They complained that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
1 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.
1 Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν.
2 The twelve apostles called all the believers together, and told them, “It's not appropriate for us to give up spreading the word of God so we can wait at tables.
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.
2 προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν εἶπον· οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ διακονεῖν τραπέζαις.
3 Brothers, choose from among you seven trustworthy men full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will hand this responsibility over to them.
3 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.
3 ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις Πνεύματος Ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης·
4 We ourselves will give our full attention to prayer and the ministry of spreading the word.”
4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
4 ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν.
5 Everybody was happy with the arrangement, and they chose Stephen (a man full of trust in God and of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (originally a Jewish convert from Antioch).
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,
5 καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους· καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρη πίστεως καὶ Πνεύματος Ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Πρόχορον καὶ Νικάνορα καὶ Τίμωνα καὶ Παρμενᾶν καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα,
6 These men were presented to the apostles who prayed for them and placed their hands on them in blessing.
6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
6 οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων, καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας.
7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly increased, with a large number of priests committing themselves to trusting in Jesus.
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.
7 καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ηὔξανε, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει.
8 Stephen, full of grace and God's power, performed wonderful miracles among the people.
8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
8 Στέφανος δὲ πλήρης πίστεως καὶ δυνάμεως ἐποίει τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα μεγάλα ἐν τῷ λαῷ.
9 But some started arguing with him. They were from the synagogue called “the Free,” as well as Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia Minor.
9 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.
9 ἀνέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς λεγομένης Λιβερτίνων καὶ Κυρηναίων καὶ Ἀλεξανδρέων καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ Κιλικίας καὶ Ἀσίας συζητοῦντες τῷ Στεφάνῳ,
10 But they weren't able to stand against Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit with which he was speaking.
10 They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
10 καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀντιστῆναι τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ τῷ πνεύματι ᾧ ἐλάλει.
11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this man blaspheme Moses, and God too!”
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
11 τότε ὑπέβαλον ἄνδρας λέγοντας ὅτι ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωϋσῆν καὶ τὸν Θεόν·
12 They stirred up the people, and together with the elders and the teachers of the law, they came and arrested him. They brought him before the council,
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council,
12 συνεκίνησάν τε τὸν λαὸν καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς, καὶ ἐπιστάντες συνήρπασαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἤγαγον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον,
13 and called false witnesses who testified against him. “This man is always slandering the holy Temple and the law,” they said.
13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
13 ἔστησάν τε μάρτυρας ψευδεῖς λέγοντας· ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος οὐ παύεται ῥήματα βλάσφημα λαλῶν κατὰ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ τοῦ νόμου·
14 “We've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple, and will change the laws we received from Moses.”
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.”
14 ἀκηκόαμεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος οὗτος καταλύσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη ἃ παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν Μωϋσῆς.
15 Everyone sitting on the council looked closely at Stephen, and his face shone like the face of an angel.
15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
15 καὶ ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν ἅπαντες οἱ καθεζόμενοι ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου.

People & places in this chapter

From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.

People

  • Nicanor

    One of the Seven

    One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5

    See in the family tree

  • Parmenas

    One of the Seven

    One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5

    See in the family tree

  • Philip

    Deacon and evangelist

    One of the seven chosen at Jerusalem; he preached in Samaria, baptized the Ethiopian official, and later hosted Paul at Caesarea with his four prophesying daughters.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5; Acts 8:5; Acts 8:38

    See in the family tree

  • Prochorus

    One of the Seven

    One of the seven men of good reputation chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5

    See in the family tree

  • Stephen

    Deacon and first martyr

    One of the seven chosen to serve tables, full of faith and the Holy Spirit; he was stoned after his speech to the Sanhedrin and became the first martyr.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5; Acts 7:59; Acts 8:2

    See in the family tree

  • Timon

    One of the Seven

    One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.

    Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5

    See in the family tree

Cross references (15)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 James 5:9; Acts 4:35; Acts 2:41; Acts 9:39; Acts 6:7
  2. 2 Deuteronomy 1:9–14; Exodus 18:17–26; 2 Timothy 2:4; Nehemiah 6:3; Numbers 11:11–13
  3. 3 1 Timothy 3:7–15; Deuteronomy 1:13; James 3:17–18; Numbers 27:18–19; 1 Timothy 5:10
  4. 4 Acts 1:14; 1 Timothy 4:13–16; Philippians 1:9–11; Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 4:2
  5. 5 Acts 11:24; Acts 21:8; Acts 8:5–40; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:1–8:2
  6. 6 2 Timothy 1:6; Numbers 8:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 8:17
  7. 7 Acts 19:20; Acts 12:24; Colossians 1:6; Hebrews 5:9; Romans 16:26
  8. 8 Acts 4:29–30; Acts 6:5; Acts 7:55; 1 Timothy 3:13; Acts 6:10
  9. 9 Acts 15:41; Acts 15:23; Acts 22:3; Acts 23:34; Matthew 27:32
  10. 10 Luke 21:15; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Matthew 10:19–20; John 7:46; Luke 12:11–12
  11. 11 Matthew 26:59–60; 1 Kings 21:10–13; Acts 18:6; Acts 15:21; Acts 21:28
  12. 12 Proverbs 15:18; Acts 14:2; Matthew 26:57; Acts 5:18; Acts 16:19–21
  13. 13 Acts 6:11; Acts 21:28; Psalm 56:5; Psalm 27:12; Matthew 24:15
  14. 14 Daniel 9:26; Hebrews 12:26–28; Acts 21:21; Acts 15:1; Galatians 4:3–5
  15. 15 Matthew 13:43; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Exodus 34:29–35; Matthew 17:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

Articles and answers on this site that cite Acts 6.

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary 6:8 John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles (Homily XV)

    See how even among the seven one was preëminent, and won the first prize. For though the ordination was common to him and them, yet he drew upon himself greater grace.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)

  2. Quotes verse 6:1–4 Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John (Chapters XVII–XVII)

    … the tables, previous to the time when Paul was brought to the faith of Christ, the reply given by the apostles, who before then had adhered to the Lord, was: "It is not good that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." Then it was that they provided for the ordination of deacons, that they themselves might …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)