1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint by the Grecian Jews began against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 The twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, “It is not right for us to give up the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 You should therefore choose, brothers, seven men from among yourselves, men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 As for us, we will always continue in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” 5 Their speech pleased the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. 6 The believers brought these men before the apostles, who prayed and then placed their hands upon them. 7 So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But there arose some people who belonged to the synagogue called the synagogue of the Freedmen, of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia. These people were debating with Stephen. 10 But they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. 11 Then they bribed some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they approached Stephen and seized him and brought him before the council. 13 They brought false witnesses, who said, “This man does not stop speaking 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 change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 Everyone who sat in the council fixed their eyes on him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.
Acts 6 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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 men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5
Parmenas
One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5
Philip
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
Prochorus
One of the seven men of good reputation chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5
Stephen
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
Timon
One of the seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution at Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Acts 6:5
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 James 5:9; Acts 4:35; Acts 2:41; Acts 9:39; Acts 6:7
- 2 Deuteronomy 1:9–14; Exodus 18:17–26; 2 Timothy 2:4; Nehemiah 6:3; Numbers 11:11–13
- 3 1 Timothy 3:7–15; Deuteronomy 1:13; James 3:17–18; Numbers 27:18–19; 1 Timothy 5:10
- 4 Acts 1:14; 1 Timothy 4:13–16; Philippians 1:9–11; Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 4:2
- 5 Acts 11:24; Acts 21:8; Acts 8:5–40; Acts 6:8; Acts 7:1–8:2
- 6 2 Timothy 1:6; Numbers 8:10; Acts 1:24; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 8:17
- 7 Acts 19:20; Acts 12:24; Colossians 1:6; Hebrews 5:9; Romans 16:26
- 8 Acts 4:29–30; Acts 6:5; Acts 7:55; 1 Timothy 3:13; Acts 6:10
- 9 Acts 15:41; Acts 15:23; Acts 22:3; Acts 23:34; Matthew 27:32
- 10 Luke 21:15; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Matthew 10:19–20; John 7:46; Luke 12:11–12
- 11 Matthew 26:59–60; 1 Kings 21:10–13; Acts 18:6; Acts 15:21; Acts 21:28
- 12 Proverbs 15:18; Acts 14:2; Matthew 26:57; Acts 5:18; Acts 16:19–21
- 13 Acts 6:11; Acts 21:28; Psalm 56:5; Psalm 27:12; Matthew 24:15
- 14 Daniel 9:26; Hebrews 12:26–28; Acts 21:21; Acts 15:1; Galatians 4:3–5
- 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
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).
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)
… 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)