Acts Chapter 6
Showing all 15 verses for Acts Chapter 6.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. "
"In those days, as the number of believers kept growing, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers began complaining against the Hebrew-speaking ones, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food."
Don't be discouraged when a growing community or relationship reveals real problems - that's not failure, it's an invitation to fix something that genuinely matters, especially when it affects the most vulnerable people involved.
"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. "
"So the twelve apostles called the whole community of believers together and said, "It isn't right for us to neglect teaching God's message in order to manage the daily food distribution.""
Knowing your own limits and asking for help isn't a failure of leadership - trying to do everything yourself, and doing all of it badly, helps no one.
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. "
""So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are well respected, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we'll put them in charge of this task.""
Never assume that "practical" or "behind the scenes" work matters less than more visible roles - handling ordinary responsibilities with integrity and wisdom is just as much a calling as public teaching.
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. "
""That way we can devote ourselves fully to prayer and to teaching God's message.""
Get clear on what you're specifically called and equipped to focus on, and don't feel guilty about handing other genuinely important work to people better suited to it.
"And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: "
"The whole group liked this idea, so they chose Stephen - a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit - along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert to Judaism from Antioch."
If someone raises a genuine concern about being overlooked, the best response isn't just words of comfort - it's real, visible action that puts things right, even if it means handing over some responsibility or control.
"Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. "
"They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and then placed their hands on them, formally setting them apart for this task."
Publicly recognising and blessing someone stepping into a new responsibility - rather than just quietly handing them a task - honours both the person and the importance of the work they're taking on.
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. "
"God's message kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly - even a large number of priests became believers."
Don't assume anyone is beyond being open to change, however invested they seem in the way things currently are - people can and do genuinely reconsider, even from positions of comfort or power.
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. "
"Stephen, full of grace and power, performed remarkable wonders and signs among the people."
Don't underestimate what can grow out of faithfully doing the task in front of you, however modest it seems - real character and capability tend to show themselves and expand naturally over time.
"Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. "
"But members of a synagogue known as the synagogue of the Freedmen - made up of Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia - began arguing with Stephen."
Expect that even people who share your background or community can sometimes become your strongest opposition - disagreement doesn't always follow the lines you'd expect, so meet it with the same patience regardless of where it comes from.
"And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. "
"But they could not stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke."
When you can't win an honest argument against someone, the answer is to examine your own position more carefully - not to attack the person making it through unfair means.
"Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. "
"So they secretly bribed some men to claim, "We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.""
When you see someone resorting to lies and manipulation rather than honest argument, that itself tells you something important about the strength of their actual case.
"And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, "
"They stirred up the people, the elders, and the religious scholars, then came and seized Stephen and dragged him before the council."
Be careful about how quickly you let secondhand outrage move you to act against someone - check the truth for yourself rather than being swept along by a crowd's anger.
"And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: "
"They brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the Law of Moses.""
Being falsely accused for doing good doesn't mean you've done anything wrong - sometimes it's simply proof you're following faithfully in the footsteps of someone who faced the exact same treatment.
"For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. "
""We've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.""
Be wary of judging someone's words based on a secondhand, twisted version of what they actually said - always seek out the full, honest context before drawing conclusions.
"And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. "
"Everyone sitting in the council stared intently at Stephen, and his face looked to them like the face of an angel."
How you carry yourself under false accusation and real threat can itself speak louder than any words you say - peace and calm integrity in the face of injustice have a way of being noticed, even by people determined to condemn you.