The Acts of the Apostles

Acts 6

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Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.

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ACTS 6:1

TWMC

During this period, as the number of disciples grew, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers began complaining about the Hebrew-speaking believers. Their widows were being overlooked when daily assistance was distributed.

KJV

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.

Greek

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.

Romanized Greek

En de tais hēmerais tautais, plēthynontōn tōn mathētōn, egeneto gongysmos tōn Hellēnistōn pros tous Hebraious, hoti paretheōrounto en tē diakonia tē kathēmerinē hai chērai autōn.

ACTS 6:2

TWMC

The twelve apostles called the whole community of disciples together. “It would not be right for us to set aside God’s message in order to serve at tables,” they said.

KJV

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.

Greek

Προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, εἶπον, Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς, καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, διακονεῖν τραπέζαις.

Romanized Greek

Proskalesamenoi de hoi dōdeka to plēthos tōn mathētōn, eipon, Ouk areston estin hēmas, kataleipsantas ton logon tou theou, diakonein trapezais.

ACTS 6:3

TWMC

“So, brothers, choose seven men from among you who are well respected, full of the Holy Spirit, and wise. We will put them in charge of meeting this need.

KJV

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.

Greek

Ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης.

Romanized Greek

Episkepsasthe oun, adelphoi, andras ex hymōn martyroumenous hepta, plēreis pneumatos hagiou kai sophias, hous katastēsōmen epi tēs chreias tautēs.

ACTS 6:4

TWMC

We, for our part, will give our attention to prayer and to serving through the message of God.”

KJV

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Greek

Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν.

Romanized Greek

Hēmeis de tē proseuchē kai tē diakonia tou logou proskarterēsomen.

ACTS 6:5

TWMC

The whole gathering welcomed this proposal. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert to Judaism from Antioch.

KJV

¶ 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:

Greek

Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους∙ καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον, καὶ Πρόχορον, καὶ Νικάνορα, καὶ Τίμωνα, καὶ Παρμενᾶν, καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα,

Romanized Greek

Kai ēresen ho logos enōpion pantos tou plēthous; kai exelexanto Stephanon, andra plērēs pisteōs kai pneumatos hagiou, kai Philippon, kai Prochoron, kai Nikanora, kai Timōna, kai Parmenan, kai Nikolaon prosēlyton Antiochea,

ACTS 6:6

TWMC

They brought these men before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

KJV

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Greek

οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων∙ καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας.

Romanized Greek

hous estēsan enōpion tōn apostolōn; kai proseuxamenoi epethēkan autois tas cheiras.

ACTS 6:7

TWMC

God’s message continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a large number of priests came to obey the faith.

KJV

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.

Greek

Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει.

Romanized Greek

Kai ho logos tou theou ēuxanen, kai eplēthyneto ho arithmos tōn mathētōn en Hierousalēm sphodra, polys te ochlos tōn hiereōn hypēkouon tē pistei.

ACTS 6:8

TWMC

Stephen, full of faith and power, performed remarkable wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

KJV

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Greek

Στέφανος δὲ πλήρης πίστεως καὶ δυνάμεως ἐποίει τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα μεγάλα ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

Romanized Greek

Stephanos de plērēs pisteōs kai dynameōs epoiei terata kai sēmeia megala en tō laō.

ACTS 6:9

TWMC

But some members of the synagogue known as the Freedmen’s Synagogue rose to debate with him. They included people from Cyrene and Alexandria, and from Cilicia and the province of Asia.

KJV

¶ 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.

Greek

Ἀνέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τῆς λεγομένης Λιβερτίνων, καὶ Κυρηναίων, καὶ Ἀλεξανδρέων, καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ Κιλικίας καὶ Ἀσίας, συζητοῦντες τῷ Στεφάνῳ.

Romanized Greek

Anestēsan de tines tōn ek tēs synagōgēs tēs legomenēs Libertinōn, kai Kyrēnaiōn, kai Alexandreōn, kai tōn apo Kilikias kai Asias, syzētountes tō Stephanō.

ACTS 6:10

TWMC

They could not counter the wisdom with which he spoke or the Spirit who enabled him.

KJV

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Greek

Καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυον ἀντιστῆναι τῇ σοφίᾳ καὶ τῷ πνεύματι ᾧ ἐλάλει.

Romanized Greek

Kai ouk ischyon antistēnai tē sophia kai tō pneumati hō elalei.

ACTS 6:11

TWMC

Then they secretly persuaded men to claim, “We heard him say blasphemous things against Moses and God.”

KJV

Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

Greek

Τότε ὑπέβαλον ἄνδρας λέγοντας ὅτι Ἀκηκόαμεν αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ῥήματα βλάσφημα εἰς Μωσῆν καὶ τὸν θεόν.

Romanized Greek

Tote hypebalon andras legontas hoti Akēkoamen autou lalountos rhēmata blasphēma eis Mōsēn kai ton theon.

ACTS 6:12

TWMC

They stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the law. They came upon Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.

KJV

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,

Greek

Συνεκίνησάν τε τὸν λαὸν καὶ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ τοὺς γραμματεῖς, καὶ ἐπιστάντες συνήρπασαν αὐτόν, καὶ ἤγαγον εἰς τὸ συνέδριον,

Romanized Greek

Synekinēsan te ton laon kai tous presbyterous kai tous grammateis, kai epistantes synērpasan auton, kai ēgagon eis to synedrion,

ACTS 6:13

TWMC

They produced false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law.

KJV

And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

Greek

ἔστησάν τε μάρτυρας ψευδεῖς λέγοντας, Ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος οὐ παύεται ῥήματα βλάσφημα λαλῶν κατὰ τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ τοῦ νόμου∙

Romanized Greek

estēsan te martyras pseudeis legontas, Ho anthrōpos houtos ou pauetai rhēmata blasphēma lalōn kata tou topou tou hagiou kai tou nomou;

ACTS 6:14

TWMC

We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down and change the customs Moses handed on to us.”

KJV

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

Greek

ἀκηκόαμεν γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος οὗτος καταλύσει τὸν τόπον τοῦτον, καὶ ἀλλάξει τὰ ἔθη ἃ παρέδωκεν ἡμῖν Μωσῆς.

Romanized Greek

akēkoamen gar autou legontos hoti Iēsous ho Nazōraios houtos katalysei ton topon touton, kai allaxei ta ethē ha paredōken hēmin Mōsēs.

ACTS 6:15

TWMC

Everyone seated in the council looked intently at Stephen. They saw that his face was like an angel’s face.

KJV

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Greek

Καὶ ἀτενίσαντες εἰς αὐτὸν ἅπαντες οἱ καθεζόμενοι ἐν τῷ συνεδρίῳ, εἶδον τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλου.

Romanized Greek

Kai atenisantes eis auton hapantes hoi kathezomenoi en tō synedriō, eidon to prosōpon autou hōsei prosōpon angelou.