Acts 6 – NIRV & CRO

New International Reader’s Version

Acts 6:1-15

Seven Leaders Are Chosen

1In those days the number of believers was growing. The Greek Jews complained about the non-Greek Jews. They said that the widows of the Greek Jews were not being taken care of. They weren’t getting their fair share of food each day. 2So the 12 apostles gathered all the believers together. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to give up teaching God’s word. And we’d have to stop teaching to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, choose seven of your men. They must be known as men who are wise and full of the Holy Spirit. We will turn this important work over to them. 4Then we can give our attention to prayer and to teaching God’s word.”

5This plan pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen. He was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas were chosen too. The group also chose Nicolas from Antioch. He had accepted the Jewish faith. 6The group brought them to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on them.

7So God’s word spread. The number of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Also, a large number of priests began to obey Jesus’ teachings.

Stephen Is Arrested

8Stephen was full of God’s grace and power. He did great wonders and signs among the people. 9But members of the group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to oppose him. Some of them were Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. Others were Jews from Cilicia and Asia Minor. They all began to argue with Stephen. 10But he was too wise for them. That’s because the Holy Spirit gave Stephen wisdom whenever he spoke.

11Then in secret they talked some men into lying about Stephen. They said, “We heard Stephen speak evil things against Moses and against God.”

12So the people were stirred up. The elders and the teachers of the law were stirred up too. They arrested Stephen and brought him to the Sanhedrin. 13They found witnesses who were willing to tell lies. These liars said, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place. He also speaks against the law. 14We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place. He says Jesus will change the practices that Moses handed down to us.”

15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked right at Stephen. They saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Knijga O Kristu

Djela Apostolska 6:1-15

Apostoli biraju sedmoricu

1Ali kako je broj vjernika6:1 U grčkome: učenika. Isto i u 6:2, 7. naglo rastao, neki se počnu žaliti. Židovi koji su govorili grčki prigovarali su Židovima koji su govorili hebrejski da zanemaruju njihove udovice u svagdanjem dijeljenju pomoći. 2Dvanaestorica zato sazovu vjernike.

“Mi apostoli ne bismo trebali služiti pri stolovima umjesto da propovijedamo i poučavamo Riječ. 3Pronađite, braćo, među sobom sedam ljudi na dobrome glasu, punih Svetoga Duha i mudrosti. Njih ćemo za to zadužiti, 4a mi ćemo se posvetiti molitvi te propovijedanju i poučavanju Riječi.”

5Prijedlog se svima svidio. Izaberu Stjepana, čovjeka punog vjere i Svetoga Duha, te Filipa, Prohora, Nikanora, Timona, Parmenu i Nikolu koji je došao iz Antiohije. On se kao poganin obratio na židovsku vjeru, a sada je postao kršćaninom. 6Postave njih sedmoricu pred apostole, a oni polože na njih ruke i pomole se.

7Božja riječ sve se više širila. Broj vjernika u Jeruzalemu naglo je rastao, a i mnogi su židovski svećenici prihvaćali vjeru.

Stjepanovo uhićenje

8Stjepan je bio pun Božje milosti i sile. Činio je među narodom silna čudesa i znamenje. 9Ali pobune se neki iz takozvane sinagoge Slobodnjaka, Židovi iz Cirene, Aleksandrije, Cilicije i Male Azije, pa počnu s njime raspravljati. 10Nitko od njih nije se mogao nositi s mudrošću i Duhom kojim je Stjepan govorio.

11Nagovore zato neke ljude da za njega kažu: “Čuli smo ga da govori pogrdne riječi protiv Mojsija i protiv Boga.” 12Podjarili su i narod i starješine i pismoznance. Oni dođu po njega, ščepaju ga i odvuku u Vijeće. 13Dovedu onamo krivokletnike koji izjave: “Ovaj čovjek uvijek govori protiv Hrama i protiv Mojsijeva zakona. 14Čuli smo da kaže kako će taj Isus iz Nazareta uništiti Hram i promijeniti običaje koje nam je Mojsije predao.” 15Svi koji su sjedili u Vijeću pogledaju u Stjepana i opaze da mu je lice poput anđeoskog.