Previous Chapter Full Page Full Page Next Chapter

Acts 6 :: New International Version (NIV)

The Choosing of the Seven

Act 6:1

Act 6:1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[fn] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Act 6:2

Act 6:2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Act 6:3

Act 6:3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Act 6:4

Act 6:4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Act 6:5

Act 6:5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Act 6:6

Act 6:6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Act 6:7

Act 6:7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

Act 6:8

Act 6:8Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

Act 6:9

Act 6:9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen.

Act 6:10

Act 6:10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

Act 6:11

Act 6:11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

Act 6:12

Act 6:12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Act 6:13

Act 6:13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Act 6:14

Act 6:14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

Act 6:15

Act 6:15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NIV Footnotes
That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture
Translation Copyright Logo

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.


See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

Acts Chapter 6 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras