Actuum Apostolorum 6
1 In diebus illis, crescente numero discipulorum, factum est murmur Græcorum adversus Hebræos, eo quod despicerentur in ministerio quotidiano viduæ eorum.
About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Greek speaking Jews against the Aramaic speaking Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
2 Convocantes autem duodecim multitudinem discipulorum dixerunt: Non est æquum nos derelinquere verbum Dei, et ministrare mensis.
The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them, ‘It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God’s message.
3 Considerate ergo fratres, viros ex vobis boni testimonii septem, plenos Spiritu Sancto, et sapientia, quos constituamus super hoc opus.
Therefore, friends, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter;
4 Nos vero orationi, et ministerio verbi instantes erimus.
while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the delivery of the message.’
5 Et placuit sermo coram omni multitudine. Et elegerunt Stephanum, virum plenum fide, et Spiritu Sancto, et Philippum, et Prochorum, et Nicanorem, et Timonem, et Parmenam, et Nicolaum advenam Antiochenum.
This proposal was unanimously agreed to; and the disciples chose Stephen – a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit – and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism;
6 Hos statuerunt ante conspectum Apostolorum: et orantes imposuerunt eis manus.
and they brought these men to the apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them.
7 Et verbum Domini crescebat, et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Ierusalem valde: multa etiam turba sacerdotum obediebat fidei.
So God’s message spread, and the number of the disciples continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the faith.
8 Stephanus autem plenus gratia, et fortitudine faciebat prodigia, et signa magna in populo.
Meanwhile Stephen, divinely helped and strengthened, was showing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga, quæ appellatur Libertinorum, et Cyrenensium, et Alexandrinorum, et eorum qui erant a Cilicia, et Asia, disputantes cum Stephano:
But some members of the Synagogue of the Freed Slaves (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen;
10 et non poterant resistere sapientiæ, et Spiritui, qui loquebatur.
yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke.
11 Tunc summiserunt viros, qui dicerent se audivisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiæ in Moysen, et in Deum.
Then they induced some men to assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God;
12 Commoverunt itaque plebem, et seniores, et scribas: et concurrentes rapuerunt eum, et adduxerunt in concilium,
and they stirred up the people, as well as the elders and the teachers of the Law, and set on Stephen, and arrested him, and brought him before the High Council.
13 et statuerunt falsos testes, qui dicerent: Homo iste non cessat loqui verba adversus locum sanctum, et legem.
There they produced witnesses who gave false evidence. ‘This man,’ they said, ‘is incessantly saying things against this holy place and the Law;
14 Audivimus enim eum dicentem: quoniam Iesus Nazarenus hic, destruet locum istum, et mutabit traditiones, quas tradidit nobis Moyses.
indeed, we have heard him declare that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs handed down to us by Moses.’
15 Et intuentes eum omnes, qui sedebant in concilio, viderunt faciem eius tamquam faciem Angeli.
The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted on Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel.
