1В эти дни, когда число учеников стало расти, грекоязычные евреи[1] начали жаловаться на местных евреев. Они говорили, что те пренебрегают их вдовами, когда раздают ежедневную пищу.2Тогда Двенадцать созвали всех учеников и сказали: – Мы не можем, оставив служение словом Божьим, заняться обслуживанием столов.3Поэтому, братья, выберите из вашей среды семь человек с хорошей репутацией, исполненных Духа и мудрости, и мы возложим на них эту обязанность.4Сами же мы будем продолжать молиться и нести служение слова.5Это предложение всем понравилось, и выбрали Стефана, человека, полного веры и Святого Духа, Филиппа, Прохора, Никанора, Тимона, Пармена и Николая из Антиохии, обращенного в иудаизм.6Их представили апостолам, и те помолились и возложили на них руки.7Слово Божье распространялось, и число учеников в Иерусалиме быстро увеличивалось, даже многие священники покорились вере.
Арест Стефана
8Стефан, человек, полный Божьей благодати и силы, совершал в народе великие чудеса и знамения.9Некоторые из членов так называемой Синагоги Вольноотпущенников, Киренцев и Александрийцев, а также иудеи из Киликии и провинции Азия, вступили в спор со Стефаном.10Но они ничего не могли противопоставить мудрости и силе Духа, с которыми говорил Стефан.11Тогда они тайно подговорили нескольких людей сказать: «Мы слышали, как Стефан говорил кощунственные слова против Моисея и Бога».12Они возбудили народ, старейшин и учителей Закона; напав на Стефана, они схватили его и привели в Высший Совет.13Представили лжесвидетелей, которые сказали: – Этот человек постоянно говорит против святого храма и против Закона.14Мы слышали, как он говорил, что Иисус из Назарета разрушит храм[2] и изменит обычаи, которые передал нам Моисей. (Мр 14:57; Мр 15:29; Лк 21:5; Ин 2:19)15Все сидевшие в Высшем Совете внимательно смотрели на Стефана и видели, что лицо его, как лицо ангела.
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.
1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[1] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. (Деян 2:41; Деян 2:47; Деян 4:4; Деян 4:35; Деян 5:14; Деян 6:7)2And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.3Therefore, brothers,[2] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Втор 1:13; Лк 1:15; Лк 4:1; Деян 6:5; Деян 7:55; Деян 11:24; 1Тим 3:7)4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Деян 1:14)5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 proselyte of Antioch. (Мф 23:15; Деян 2:11; Деян 6:3; Деян 8:5; Деян 11:24; Деян 13:43; Деян 21:8)6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. (Деян 1:24; Деян 8:17; Деян 9:17; Деян 13:3; Деян 19:6; 1Тим 4:14; 1Тим 5:22; 2Тим 1:6; Евр 6:2)7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Деян 12:24; Деян 13:8; Деян 14:22; Деян 16:5; Деян 19:20; Рим 1:5; Кол 1:5)
Stephen Is Seized
8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (Деян 1:8)9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. (Лк 21:14)11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” (3Цар 21:10; 3Цар 21:13; Мф 26:59)12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council,13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, (Мф 24:15; Деян 6:11; Деян 7:58; Деян 21:28; Деян 25:8)14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” (Дан 9:26; Мф 5:17; Мф 26:61; Деян 15:1; Деян 21:21)15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Суд 13:6; Еккл 8:1)