Daniel P. Barron

1 And in those days of multiplying of the disciples, there was a complaint of the Hellenists ⁱ against the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily service. 2 And the twelve, calling together the multitude of disciples, said, “It is not pleasing ⁱⁱ us, leaving the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, ⁱⁱⁱ brethren, select seven reputable men out of you, full of holy spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this need. ^iv 4 And we will continue in the prayer and the service of the word.” 5 And the word was pleasing ^v before all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, ^vi a man full of faith and holy spirit, and Philip and Prochorus ^vii and Nicanor ^viii and Timon ^ix and Parmenas ^x and Nicolas ^xi a proselyte, an Antiochene, ^xii 6 whom they stood before the apostles. And praying, they laid on them the hands. ^xiii

7 And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. And a large crowd of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen full of faith and power was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 And some arose from what was called the synagogue of the Freedmen (and Cyrenians and Alexandrians ^xiv and those from Cilicia ^xv and Asia) disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men saying that, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming upon, they seized him and brought to the council. 13 And they also set up false witnesses saying, “This man does not cease speaking blasphemous ^xvi words against the holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him saying that, 'This Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.'” 15 And looking intently at him, all who were sitting in the council saw his face as the face of a messenger.

Acts 5 - Acts 7

Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.

1. Ἑλληνιστῶν (hellênistôn) - “Hellenists” - Greek speaking Jews – also only found in Acts 9:29; 11:20. Ἑλλην (hellên) is a Greek (man), e.g. Acts 16:3; Galatians 2:3; 3:28. ^
2. ἀρεστόν (areston) - “pleasing” - NKJV, NAS “desirable”; KJV “reason” - also only found in John 8:29 (“please”); Acts 12:3 (“pleased”); 1 John 3:22 (“pleasing”). ^
3. οὖν (oun) - “Therefore” - Critical text has δέ (de) “and” or “but” depending on context. ^
4. χρείας (chreias) - “need” - NKJV, KJV “business”; NAS “task” - same word as e.g. in Acts 4:35 χρείαν (chreian) “need” NKJV; KJV; NAS. ^
5. ἤρεσεν (êresen) - “was pleasing” - verb akin to the adjective ἀρεστόν (areston) “pleasing” above. ^
6. Στέφανον (Stephanon) - “Stephen” - same exact term for “crown” e.g. στέφανον (stephanon) Matthew 27:29. ^
7. Πρόχορον (Prochoron) - “Prochorus” - only here. ^
8. Νικάνορα (Nikanora) - “Nicanor” - only here. ^
9. Τίμωνα (Timôn) – “Timon” - only here. ^
10. Παρμενᾶν (Parmenan) - “Parmenas” - only here. ^
11. Νικόλαον (Nikolaon) - “Nicolas” - only here. There is no known connection between this man and the Nicolaitans, Νικολαϊτῶν (Nikolaitôn) in Revelation 2:6, 15. ^
12. Ἀντιοχέα (Antiochea) - “Antiochene” = a native of Antioch – only found here. Word for the location Antioch is Ἀντιοχείας (Antiocheias) e.g. Acts 11:19. ^
13. ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας (epethêkan autois tas cheiras) - “they laid on them the hands” - “and laying on of hands” (Hebrews 6:2 ἐπιθέσεώς τε χειρῶν) is one in the list of “the word of the beginning of the Christ” τὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ χριστοῦ λόγον (ton tês archês tou christou) NKJV “elementary principles of Christ” in Hebrews 6:1-2. Laying on of hands also found e.g. in Exodus 29:9-10, 15-19; Leviticus 4:13-15; 8:13-22; 16:21; 24:14; Numbers 8:10-12; 27:22-23; Deuteronomy 34:9; 2 Kings 13:16-17; 2 Chronicles 29:23; Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 5:23; 6:5; 10:16; 16:18; Luke 4:40; Acts 9:17; 13:3; 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22; 2 Timothy 1:6. ^
14. Ἀλεξανδρέων (Alexandreôn) - “Alexandrians” - also only found in Acts 18:24. ^
15. Κιλικίας (Kilikias) - “Cilicia” - found also only in Acts 15:23, 41; 21:39; 22:3; 23:34; 27:5; Galatians 1:21. ^
16. βλάσφημα (blasphêma) - “blasphemous” - Critical text does not have this word in this verse, but it does in verse 11. Also, Critical text adds in brakets [τούτου] (toutou) “this” for “this holy place.” ^