New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 6
1
In those days the number of believers was growing. The Jews who followed Greek practices complained against the Jews who followed only Jewish practices. They said that the widows of men who followed Greek practices were not being taken care of. They weren't getting their fair share of food each day.
Reference
2
So the Twelve gathered all the believers together. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to give up teaching God's word in order to wait on tables.
Reference
3
Brothers, 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.
Reference
Holy
1 Timothy 5:10
Acts 10:22
Acts 2:4
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 1:13
3 John 1:12
Isaiah 28:26
Acts 1:21
Acts 6:6
Acts 22:12
Spirit
Isaiah 28:6
5
This 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.
Reference
📍 Antioch 1
People
Faith
Acts 11:24
Acts 6:8
Holy
Acts 6:3
Parallel theme
Acts 21:8
Acts 13:1
Acts 11:19
Proverbs 15:23
Spirit
Acts 6:10
6
The group brought them to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 8:10
2 Timothy 1:6
Acts 8:17
1 Timothy 4:14
Acts 9:17
1 Timothy 5:22
Prayer
Acts 1:24
Acts 13:3
7
So God's word spread. The number of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Also, a large number of priests began to obey Jesus' teachings.
Reference
Faith
Acts 14:22
Romans 1:5
Romans 16:26
Parallel theme
Hebrews 5:9
References God
Colossians 1:6
Word
Acts 19:20
Acts 12:24
8
Stephen was full of God's grace and power. He did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Reference
Faith
Acts 6:5
1 Timothy 3:13
John 4:48
Parallel theme
Acts 7:55
Acts 6:3
Acts 6:10
Acts 6:15
Acts 8:6
Ephesians 4:11
9
But 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.
Reference
📍 Cilicia
10
But he was too wise for them. They couldn't stand up against the Holy Spirit who spoke through him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 21:15
John 7:46
Exodus 4:12
Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:4
Job 32:8
Luke 1:17
Acts 7:51
11
Then in secret they talked some men into lying about Stephen. They said, "We heard Stephen speak evil things against Moses. He also spoke evil things against God."
12
So 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.
Reference
13
They found people who were willing to tell lies. The false witnesses said, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place. He also speaks against the law.
Reference
14
We 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."
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 9:26
Acts 28:17
Luke 21:6
Galatians 3:19
Galatians 3:23
Acts 26:3
Acts 25:8
References Jesus
John 4:21
References Moses
Acts 21:21
Acts 15:1
Chapter Summary
Acts 6 describes an important stage in the development of the early Christian community, as the rapidly growing church must learn how to manage practical needs, develop new leaders, protect unity between different cultural groups, and respond to increasing opposition.
The chapter begins by describing a problem within the Jerusalem church.
As the number of disciples continues to increase, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers complain that their widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food compared with the Hebrew-speaking widows.
This is significant because the problem is not simply administrative.
It threatens the unity of a community that includes people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The apostles respond by gathering the entire community and explaining that they should not abandon their central responsibility of prayer and preaching in order to manage every practical matter themselves.
Instead, they ask the believers to choose seven respected men who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to take responsibility for the distribution.
This decision demonstrates an important principle of growing organizations and communities: as the work expands, responsibilities must be shared with trustworthy people who possess the necessary character and abilities.
The community approves the proposal and selects Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.
The apostles pray for them and lay their hands on them, formally recognizing their new responsibilities.
The result is positive.
God's word continues spreading, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increases greatly, and even many priests become obedient to the faith.
The solution to the internal problem therefore strengthens rather than weakens the church.
The chapter then focuses particularly on Stephen.
Although Stephen has been selected to help with practical service, Luke immediately shows that he is also a powerful spiritual leader.
Stephen is described as being full of grace and power and performs great wonders and signs among the people.
He becomes involved in debates with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, a group associated with Jewish people from different parts of the Mediterranean world.
These opponents cannot overcome Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit with which he speaks.
Unable to defeat him through argument, they secretly persuade others to accuse him of speaking against Moses, God, the temple, and the law.
The accusations are then brought before the Jewish council.
False witnesses claim that Stephen has spoken against the temple and Jewish customs and that he has said Jesus will destroy the temple and change the traditions associated with Moses.
These accusations are extremely serious because the temple and the law were central to Jewish religious identity.
The chapter ends with Stephen standing before the council.
Despite the hostility surrounding him, his face appears to the people like the face of an angel, suggesting extraordinary peace and divine presence in the middle of a dangerous confrontation.
The central message of Acts 6 is that the growth of the Christian community requires both spiritual commitment and practical organization, while faithful service can lead to greater responsibility and, eventually, serious opposition.
The chapter also shows that the early church does not ignore internal problems.
Instead, the apostles address the complaint directly, involve the wider community in the solution, and establish a structure that allows both practical service and spiritual ministry to continue.
Another important theme is the recognition that Christian ministry is broader than preaching alone.
The seven men are selected specifically to address a practical need involving food distribution and vulnerable widows, yet Stephen demonstrates that someone serving in practical ministry can also become a powerful teacher, witness, and miracle worker.
The chapter therefore presents service and spiritual ministry as complementary rather than competing responsibilities.
Acts 6 also introduces a major transition in the story.
The first chapters of Acts have focused primarily on Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem, but Stephen and Philip now emerge as significant leaders.
Stephen's ministry will lead directly into the dramatic events of the next chapter, while Philip will later become an important missionary beyond Jerusalem.
The Gospel is therefore beginning to move through an increasingly diverse group of witnesses.
Finally, Acts 6 shows that the expansion of Christianity brings both opportunity and opposition.
The church grows rapidly, but growth creates organizational challenges.
The apostles solve those challenges through shared leadership.
Stephen becomes increasingly effective, but his effectiveness attracts determined opposition.
The result is a church that is becoming more organized, more diverse, and more influential, while also moving toward a new period of persecution that will push the Christian message beyond Jerusalem.
The chapter begins by describing a problem within the Jerusalem church.
As the number of disciples continues to increase, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers complain that their widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food compared with the Hebrew-speaking widows.
This is significant because the problem is not simply administrative.
It threatens the unity of a community that includes people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The apostles respond by gathering the entire community and explaining that they should not abandon their central responsibility of prayer and preaching in order to manage every practical matter themselves.
Instead, they ask the believers to choose seven respected men who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to take responsibility for the distribution.
This decision demonstrates an important principle of growing organizations and communities: as the work expands, responsibilities must be shared with trustworthy people who possess the necessary character and abilities.
The community approves the proposal and selects Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus.
The apostles pray for them and lay their hands on them, formally recognizing their new responsibilities.
The result is positive.
God's word continues spreading, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increases greatly, and even many priests become obedient to the faith.
The solution to the internal problem therefore strengthens rather than weakens the church.
The chapter then focuses particularly on Stephen.
Although Stephen has been selected to help with practical service, Luke immediately shows that he is also a powerful spiritual leader.
Stephen is described as being full of grace and power and performs great wonders and signs among the people.
He becomes involved in debates with members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, a group associated with Jewish people from different parts of the Mediterranean world.
These opponents cannot overcome Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit with which he speaks.
Unable to defeat him through argument, they secretly persuade others to accuse him of speaking against Moses, God, the temple, and the law.
The accusations are then brought before the Jewish council.
False witnesses claim that Stephen has spoken against the temple and Jewish customs and that he has said Jesus will destroy the temple and change the traditions associated with Moses.
These accusations are extremely serious because the temple and the law were central to Jewish religious identity.
The chapter ends with Stephen standing before the council.
Despite the hostility surrounding him, his face appears to the people like the face of an angel, suggesting extraordinary peace and divine presence in the middle of a dangerous confrontation.
The central message of Acts 6 is that the growth of the Christian community requires both spiritual commitment and practical organization, while faithful service can lead to greater responsibility and, eventually, serious opposition.
The chapter also shows that the early church does not ignore internal problems.
Instead, the apostles address the complaint directly, involve the wider community in the solution, and establish a structure that allows both practical service and spiritual ministry to continue.
Another important theme is the recognition that Christian ministry is broader than preaching alone.
The seven men are selected specifically to address a practical need involving food distribution and vulnerable widows, yet Stephen demonstrates that someone serving in practical ministry can also become a powerful teacher, witness, and miracle worker.
The chapter therefore presents service and spiritual ministry as complementary rather than competing responsibilities.
Acts 6 also introduces a major transition in the story.
The first chapters of Acts have focused primarily on Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem, but Stephen and Philip now emerge as significant leaders.
Stephen's ministry will lead directly into the dramatic events of the next chapter, while Philip will later become an important missionary beyond Jerusalem.
The Gospel is therefore beginning to move through an increasingly diverse group of witnesses.
Finally, Acts 6 shows that the expansion of Christianity brings both opportunity and opposition.
The church grows rapidly, but growth creates organizational challenges.
The apostles solve those challenges through shared leadership.
Stephen becomes increasingly effective, but his effectiveness attracts determined opposition.
The result is a church that is becoming more organized, more diverse, and more influential, while also moving toward a new period of persecution that will push the Christian message beyond Jerusalem.