Full Screen
FREE Mobile Apps!
Report a TypoActs ◦ Chapter 6
1At that time, the number of people partaking of, and then distributing the Remedy was increasing. But tension arose between the Grecian and local Jews, because the widows of the Grecian Jews were being overlooked in the daily food distribution.2So the Twelve gathered all the Lord's followers and said, "It would not be right for us to stop our duties-distributing the Remedy and teaching the truth of God's kingdom of love-in order to pass out food.3Friends, select seven of you, who have partaken of the Remedy, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and are wise. We will entrust them with this responsibility,4and focus our energies on talking with God and distributing the Remedy to sin and selfishness."5Everyone was happy with this solution. They selected Stephen, a man who trusted God completely and was full of the Holy Spirit; they also selected Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who had converted to Judaism.6They presented them to the Lord's ambassadors, who put their hands on them and asked God to bless them.7So the truth about God and his Remedy spread. The number of those who partook of the Remedy in Jerusalem increased quickly, and a large number of Jewish priests partook of the Remedy and became faithful to Jesus.8Stephen, a man whose character radiated the grace and beauty of God and who was filled with power from heaven, performed many miracles and incredible wonders among the people.9But Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and Asia, who were members of the Synagogue of Freemen, opposed him. They tried to debate with Stephen,10but their arguments couldn't stand against his wisdom or the Spirit who empowered his words.11So they bribed some men to slander him. They said, "We heard Stephen teach lies about Moses and God."12By doing this, they agitated the people, church leaders, and theologians who preferred a legal theology. These people arrested Stephen and brought him before the Jewish High Court.13They brought in their bribed witnesses who perjured themselves by saying, "This man is always speaking against this temple and God's written law.14We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this building, and do away with what Moses taught us."15All those sitting in the courtroom turned and looked closely at Stephen, and they saw his face radiating light, like that of an angel.