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Acts 6 - Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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The First Seven Deacons Appointed

6 Now in these days, as[a] the disciples were increasing in number,[b] a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews[c] against the Hebraic Jews[d] because[e] their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.[f] 2 So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and[g] said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables. 3 So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation,[h] full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch), 6 whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed and[i] placed their[j] hands on them.

7 And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying[k] the faith.

Stephen Arrested

8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called),[l] both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia,[m] stood up and[n] disputed with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!” 12 And they incited the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came up and[o] seized him and brought him[p] to the Sanhedrin.[q] 13 And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place[r] and the law! 14 For we have heard him saying that this Nazarene Jesus will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” 15 And as they[s] looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin[t] saw his face was like the face of an angel.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were increasing”)
  2. Acts 6:1 *The words “in number” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  3. Acts 6:1 Literally “Hellenists”
  4. Acts 6:1 Literally “Hebrews”
  5. Acts 6:1 Or “that”
  6. Acts 6:1 *The words “of food” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  7. Acts 6:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Acts 6:3 Literally “well spoken of”
  9. Acts 6:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“prayed”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Acts 6:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  11. Acts 6:7 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began obeying”)
  12. Acts 6:9 Literally “called”
  13. Acts 6:9 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  14. Acts 6:9 Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“disputed”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
  15. Acts 6:12 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  16. Acts 6:12 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  17. Acts 6:12 Or “council”
  18. Acts 6:13 Some manuscripts have “this holy place”
  19. Acts 6:15 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“looked intently”) which is understood as temporal
  20. Acts 6:15 Or “council”

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Acts 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, 2 and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, `It is not pleasing that we, having left the word ...
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Acts 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 But in those days, when the number of disciples increased, the Greeks grumbled against the Hebrews [grutching of Greeks was made against Hebrews], for that their widows were despised in every day's ministering. 2 And the twelve called together the multitude of disciples, and said, It is not right...
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Acts 6 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

6 At that time more and more people joined the disciples. Then there was trouble about a certain matter. The Jews who spoke the Greek language complained against the other Jews. They said that each day when the food was being divided, their women whose husbands were dead did not get their part. 2 Th...
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Acts 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists[a] against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the ...
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Acts 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

These emissaries of Jesus inspire us with their passion to serve Jesus and advance the gospel in the face of torture and abuse. After a night in prison and a public flogging, they moved forward with smiles on their faces. Believers in the Western church often enjoy the benefits of social and politic...
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Acts 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Appointed for Service6 Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose[a] among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support. 2 So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right fo...
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Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists[a] murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up ...
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Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up pre...
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Acts 6 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

6 And in those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose murmuring of the Hellenists toward the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, “It is not acceptable that we should leave...
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Acts 6 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Problems of Family Living6 Around that time, as the number of disciples increased, the ‘Hellenists’ raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews’ because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called the whole crowd of disciples together.‘Listen,’ they said. ‘It...
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Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It ...
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Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It ...
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Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.(A)2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It...
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Acts 6 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused. 6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because ...
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Acts 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Seven Men Chosen to Serve6 But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called ...
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Acts 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

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Acts 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in those days, (A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (B)Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected (C)in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (...
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