Acts

拣选七人办理供给的事

1那时，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。

2十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：「我们撇下 神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。

3所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。

4但我们要专心以祈祷、传道为事。」

5大众都喜悦这话，就拣选了司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人，又拣选腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并进犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉，

6叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告了，就按手在他们头上。

7神的道兴旺起来；在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。

司提反被捕

8司提反满得恩惠、能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。

9当时有称利百地拿会堂的几个人，并有古利奈、亚历山大、基利家、亚细亚各处会堂的几个人，都起来和司提反辩论。

10司提反是以智慧和圣灵说话，众人敌挡不住，

11就买出人来说：「我们听见他说谤 摩西和 神的话。」

12他们又耸动了百姓、长老，并文士，就忽然来捉拿他，把他带到公会去，

13设下假见证，说：「这个人说话，不住地糟践圣所和律法。

14我们曾听见他说，这拿撒勒人耶稣要毁坏此地，也要改变摩西所交给我们的规条。」

15在公会里坐着的人都定睛看他，见他的面貌，好像天使的面貌。

The Choosing of the Seven

1In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jewsbecause their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

4and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

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

7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

The Arrest of Stephen

8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia.They disputed with Stephen,

10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

13where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

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

15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.