English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."
So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
~ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Recently, I was again thinking about prayer; the Bible is full of prayer, and last night two passages were brought to my attention and here they are:
Psalm 8
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [or God]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
Psalm 115
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
and then:
9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.
14 May the LORD make you increase,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth.
Prayer is the conversation we have with Father God. He asks us to be constant in prayer; He wants communication, our thoughts. Father God always wants you to remember He is here for you, a loving Father. He is not far away and condemning, but loving and wanting, willing to bless us.
Recently, I was thinking of nothing in particular and I thought of the very last scene of the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Jesus is walking from the tomb; renewed, new, still willing, moving forward, in victory, willing. And then the scene where Jesus is enjoying talking with His mother about carpentry and tables. They were laughing. Jesus was willing to do what His Father asked of Him. Either scene, Jesus is doing the will of His Father. Because of our Jesus, the Good News spread to us. Beyond the boundaries of Israel, beyond the last two millenniums. Jesus, our hero. Our Brother, who adopts us. Our Savior.
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