The person that was dying blessed me.\par I helped widows {\cf2\super [60]} that were in need.\par
Acts 6:1 - Easy To Read Version More and more people were becoming followers of Jesus. But during this same time, the Greek-speaking followers had an argument with the other Jewish followers. They said that their widows {\cf2\super [107]} were not getting their share of the things that the followers received every day. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition NOW ABOUT this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief). American Standard Version (1901) Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Common English Bible About that time, while the number of disciples continued to increase, a complaint arose. Greek-speaking disciples accused the Aramaic-speaking disciples because their widows were being overlooked in the daily food service. Catholic Public Domain Version In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version AND in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. |
The person that was dying blessed me.\par I helped widows {\cf2\super [60]} that were in need.\par
“I have never refused to help poor people.\par I always gave widows what they needed.\par
Your people will volunteer\par when you gather your army together.\par They will wear their special clothes\par and meet together early in the morning,\par Those young men will be\par \{all around you\} like dew on the ground. {\cf2\super [574]} \par
May the fields grow plenty of grain.\par May the hills be covered with crops.\par May the fields be as fertile as Lebanon.\par And may the cities be filled with people\par like fields covered with grass.\par
Learn to do good things. Be fair with other people. Punish the people that hurt others. Help the children that have no parents. Help the women whose husbands are dead.”
People will come \{to me\}.\par Those people will help Jacob \{to be strong\}\par like a plant with good roots.\par Those people will cause Israel to grow\par like a plant beginning to bloom.\par Then the land will be filled\par with \{the children of Israel\}\par like fruit from plants.”\par
People in those places\par will sing songs of praise.\par And there will be the sound of laughter.\par I will give them many children.\par Israel and Judah will not be small.\par I will bring honor to them.\par No person will look down on them.\par
People in Jerusalem don’t respect their parents. They hurt foreigners in that city. They cheat orphans and widows {\cf2\super [170]} in that place.
Then I will come to you—and I will do the right thing. I will be like a person that is ready to tell the judge about the bad things people did. Some people do evil magic. Some people do the sin of adultery. {\cf2\super [19]} Some people make false promises. Some people cheat their workers—they don’t pay them the money they promised. People don’t help widows and orphans. {\cf2\super [20]} People don’t help strangers. People don’t respect me!” The Lord All-Powerful said these things.
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [333]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [334]} You close the way for people to enter the kingdom of heaven. You yourselves don’t enter, and you stop the people that are trying to enter.
Some of these believers were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. When these men came to Antioch, they also spoke to Greeks (non-Jews). They told these Greek people the Good News about the Lord Jesus.
When he found Saul, Barnabas brought him to Antioch. Saul and Barnabas stayed there a whole year. Every time the group of believers came together, Saul and Barnabas met with them and taught many people. In Antioch the followers \{of Jesus\} were called “Christians” for the first time.
The believers decided that they would all try to help their brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. Each believer planned to send them as much as he could.
Then those people who accepted (believed) what Peter said were baptized. {\cf2\super [44]} On that day about 3,000 people were added to the group of believers.
The believers sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those people who needed it.
The believers praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group \{of believers\}.
and gave it to the apostles. Then each person was given the things he needed.
But many of the people that heard Peter and John believed the things they said. There were now about 5,000 men in the group of believers.
And more and more people believed in the Lord (Jesus)—many men and women were added to the group of believers.
He said, “We told you never to teach about this man (Jesus)! But look what you have done! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You are trying to make us responsible (guilty) for the death of this man (Jesus).”
The twelve apostles {\cf2\super [108]} called the whole group of followers together. The apostles said to them, “Our work of teaching God’s word has stopped. That’s not good! It is better for us to continue teaching God’s word than to help people have something to eat.
The word of God was reaching more and more people. The group of followers in Jerusalem became larger and larger. Even a big group of Jewish priests believed and obeyed.
Saul often talked with the Jews that spoke Greek. He had arguments with them. But they were trying to kill him.
Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows {\cf2\super [198]} stood around Peter. They were crying. They showed Peter the coats and other clothes that Dorcas (Tabitha) had made when she was still alive.
He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the believers {\cf2\super [199]} and the widows into the room. He showed them Tabitha; she was alive!
If a person has the gift of serving, then that person should serve. If a person has the gift of teaching, then that person should teach.
And don’t complain like some of those people did. Those people were killed by the angel that destroys.
Are those people Hebrews {\cf2\super [38]} ? I am too. Are they Israelites {\cf2\super [39]} ? I am too. Are they from Abraham’s {\cf2\super [40]} family? I am too.
“Every third year is the Year of Tithes. In that year, you must give one tenth of your harvest to the Levites, [161] to the foreigners living in your country, and to the widows [162] and orphans. [163] Then those people will have plenty to eat in every city.
I was circumcised eight days after my birth. I am from the people of Israel {\cf2\super [18]} and the family group of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew (Jew), and my parents were Hebrews. The law \{of Moses\} was very important to me. That is why I became a Pharisee. {\cf2\super [19]}
Give honor to (take care of) widows {\cf2\super [22]} who are really alone.
To be added to your list of widows, {\cf2\super [23]} a woman must be 60 years old or older. She must have been faithful to her husband.
You are brothers and sisters in Christ, so continue loving each other.
The kind of religion (worship) that God accepts is this: caring for orphans {\cf2\super [2]} or widows {\cf2\super [3]} who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world’s \{evil\} influence. This is the kind of religion (worship) that God accepts as pure and good.
Do you think the Scriptures {\cf2\super [19]} mean nothing? The Scriptures say, “The Spirit {\cf2\super [20]} that \{God\} made to live in us wants us only for himself.” {\cf2\super [21]}
Brothers, and sisters, don’t complain against each other. If you don’t stop complaining, you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come!