Actuum Apostolorum 6
1 in diebus autem illis crescente numero discipulorum factus est murmur Graecorum adversus Hebraeos eo quod dispicerentur in ministerio cotidiano viduae 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 aequum 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 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 inposuerunt eis manus
and they brought these men to the apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them.
7 et verbum Dei crescebat et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Hierusalem valde multa etiam turba sacerdotum oboediebat 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 quae 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 sapientiae et Spiritui quo loquebatur
yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke.
11 tunc submiserunt viros qui dicerent se audisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiae in Mosen et 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 testes falsos dicentes 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 Moses
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.
