The First Seven Deacons Appointed

¹ Now in these days, as¹ the disciples were increasing in number,² a complaint arose by the ⌞Greek-speaking Jews⌟³ against the ⌞Hebraic Jews⌟⁴ because⁵ their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.⁶

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were increasing”)
2. *The words “in number” are not in the Greek text but are implied
3. Literally “Hellenists”
4. Literally “Hebrews”
5. Or “that”
6. *The words “of food” are not in the Greek text but are implied

² So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and¹ said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb

³ So, brothers, select from among you seven men ⌞of good reputation⌟,¹ full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.

1. Literally “well spoken of”

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 and¹ placed their² hands on them.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“prayed”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

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 obeying¹ the faith.

1. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began obeying”)

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⌟),¹ both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia,² stood up and³ disputed with Stephen.

1. Literally “called”
2. A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
3. *Here “and” is supplied because the participle (“disputed”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style

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 and¹ seized him and brought him² to the Sanhedrin.³

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. Or “council”

¹³ And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking words against the holy place¹ and the law!

1. Some manuscripts have “this holy place”

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 they¹ looked intently at him, all those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin² saw his face was like the face of an angel.

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“looked intently”) which is understood as temporal
2. Or “council”