World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 6
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Now in those days, when the number of was multiplying, a complaint arose from the against the , because their were neglected in the daily . The twelve summoned of and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of and tables. Therefore, select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of and of , whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in and in the ministry of the word." These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose , a man full of and of , , Prochorus, , Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of , whom they set before . When they had , they on them. The word of increased and the number of greatly multiplied in . A great company of the priests were obedient to the . , full of and , performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some of those who were of the called "The Libertines", and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of and arose, disputing with . They weren't able to withstand the and by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against and ." They stirred up the people, the , and the , and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to , and set up false who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this place and . For we have heard him say that this of will destroy this place, and will change the customs which to us." All who sat in , fastening their eyes on him, saw like it was the of .
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- Who decides, in a church? · Acts 6:1-6
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.