By occasion of a murmur in the Church (whose number now is so grown that it cannot be numbered) Seven of them being ordered by the Apostles in the holy order of Deacons: 8 one of them, Stephen, worketh great miracles: and is by such as he confounded in disputation, falsely accused in the Council, of blasphemy against the Temple and rites thereof.By occasion of a murmur in the Church (vvhose number nevv is so growen that it can not be numbred) Seuen of them being ordered by the Apostles in the holy order of Deacons: 8 one of them, Steuen, vvorketh great miracles: and is by such as he confounded in disputation, falsely accused in the Council, of blasphemie against the Temple and rites thereof.
And in those days the number of disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were despised in the daily ministry.AND in those daies the numbre of disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greekes against the Hebrues, for that their vvidovves vvere despised in the daily ministerie.¶In diebus illis, crescente numero discipulorum, factum est murmur Græcorum adversus Hebræos, eo quod despicerentur in ministerio quotidiano viduæ eorum.
2And the Twelve calling together the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not aequum: fitting, right, equitable, that we leave the word of God, and serve tables.And the Tvvelue calling together the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not reason, that vve leaue the vvord of God, and serue tables.¶Convocantes autem duodecim multitudinem discipulorum, dixerunt : Non est æquum nos derelinquere verbum Dei, et ministrare mensis.
3Consider therefore brethren, seven men of you of good testimony, full of the holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.Consider therfore brethren, seuen men of you of good testimonie, ful of the holy Ghost and vvisedom, vvhom vve may appoint ouer this busines.Considerate ergo, fratres, viros ex vobis boni testimonii septem, plenos Spiritu Sancto et sapientia, quos constituamus super hoc opus.
4But we will be instantes: persevering, urgently devoted in prayer and the ministry of the word.But vve vvil be instant in praier and the ministerie of the vvord.Nos vero orationi et ministerio verbi instantes erimus.
5And the saying was liked before all the multitude. And they chose Stephen a man full of faith and of the holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselytum: a Gentile convert to Judaism, a proselyte, not merely a foreigner of Antioch,And the saying vvas liked before al the multitude. And they chose Steuen a man ful of faith and of the holy Ghost, and Philippe, and Próchorus, and Nicánor, and Timon, and Parménas, and Nicolás a stranger of Antioche,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.
6These they did set in the presence of the Apostles: and praying they imposed hands upon them.These they did set in the presence of the Apostles: and praying they imposed handes vpon them.Hos statuerunt ante conspectum Apostolorum : et orantes imposuerunt eis manus.
7And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly: a great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.And the vvord of God increased, and the number of the disciples vvas multiplied in Hierusalem exceedingly: a great multitude also of the priests obeied the faith.Et verbum Domini crescebat, et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Jerusalem valde : multa etiam turba sacerdotum obediebat fidei.
8And Stephen full of grace and fortitude did great wonders and signs among the people.And Steuen ful of grace and fortitude did great vvonders & signes among the people.Stephanus autem plenus gratia et fortitudine, faciebat prodigia et signa magna in populo.
9And there arose certain of that which is called the Synagogue of the Libertinorum: freedmen, former slaves now freed, not the licentious, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen:And there arose certaine of that vvhich is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that vvere of Cilicia and Asia, disputing vvith Steuen:Surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga quæ appellatur Libertinorum, et Cyrenensium, et Alexandrinorum, et eorum qui erant a Cilicia, et Asia, disputantes cum Stephano :
10and they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit that spake.and they could not resist the vvisedom and the Spirit that spake.et non poterant resistere sapientiæ, et Spiritui qui loquebatur.
11Then they summiserunt: secretly procured and instructed to give false witness men, to say they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moyses and God.Then they suborned men, to say they had heard him speake vvordes of blasphemie against Moyses and God.Tunc summiserunt viros, qui dicerent se audivisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiæ in Moysen et in Deum.
12They therefore stirred up the people, and the ancients, and the Scribes: and running together they took him, and brought him into the Council,They therefore stirred vp the people, and the Auncients, and the Scribes: and running together they tooke him, and brought him into the Council,Commoverunt itaque plebem, et seniores, et scribas : et concurrentes rapuerunt eum, et adduxerunt in concilium,
13and they set false witnesses that said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the Law.and they set false vvitnesses that said, This man ceaseth not to speake vvordes against the holy place and the Lavv.et statuerunt falsos testes, qui dicerent : Homo iste non cessat loqui verba adversus locum sanctum, et legem :
14for we have heard him say, that this same JESUS of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the traditions, which Moyses delivered unto us.for vve haue heard him say, that this same Iesvs of Nazareth shal destroy this place, and shal change the traditions, vvhich Moyses deliuered vnto vs.audivimus enim eum dicentem quoniam Jesus Nazarenus hic destruet locum istum, et mutabit traditiones quas tradidit nobis Moyses.
15And all that sate in the Council beholding him, saw his face as it were the face of an Angel.And al that sate in the Council beholding him, savv his face as it vvere the face of an Angel.Et intuentes eum omnes qui sedebant in concilio, viderunt faciem ejus tamquam faciem angeli.
Annotations
1Murmuring. It cometh of human infirmity, that in every society of men (be it never so holy) there is some cause given or taken by the weak, of murmur and difference. Which must ever be provided for as I said in the beginning, lest it grow to further schism or division. And to all such defects, the more the Church increaseth in number and diversity of men and Provinces, the more is it subject. In all which things the spiritual Magistrates, by the Apostles' example and authority, must take order, as time and occasion shall require. (Murmuring and emulation.)
2Seven men. We may not think that these Seven (here made Deacons) were only chosen to serve profane tables or dispose of the Churches' mere temporalities, though by that occasion only they may seem to have now else done, no express mention being made of any other function, for divers circumstances of this same place give evidence, and so doth all antiquity, that their Office stood now principally not about profane things, but about the holy Altar. The persons to be elected, must be full of the Holy Ghost and Wisdom, they must after public prayer be ordered and consecrated by the Apostles' imposition of hands, as Bishops and Priests were afterward ordered, etc. (The 7 Deacons.) Where St. Paul also requireth in a manner the same conditions to them as in Bishops. (1 Tim. 3.) All which would not have been prescribed for any secular stewardship. Yea straight upon their Ordering here (no doubt by commission of the Apostles, which they had not before their election) they preached, baptized, disputed, and as it may appear by the words spoken of St. Stephen, that he was full of grace and fortitude, they received great increase of grace by their Deaconship. (Acts 6, 8.) But St. Ignatius (ep. 2 ad Tral.) can best witness of their Office and the Apostles' manner and meaning in such things, who writeth thus: It behoveth also to please by all means the Deacons, which are for the ministry of JESUS CHRIST. For they are not servitors of meat and drink, but ministers of the Church of God. (The office of Deacons.) St. Polycarp hath the like in his epistle ad Philippenses. And St. Denys writeth that their Office was about the Altar, and putting the holy bread and chalice upon the same. St. Clement also (Apost. Const. li.8.c.41.) that their Office among other things, is to assist the Bishops, and read the Gospel in the Service etc. St. Cyprian in divers places calleth Deacons, the Church and the Apostles' Ministers, and their Office, administrationem sacram, an holy administration. St. Hierom affirmeth, in caput 7 Michææ. and in epist. 81 ad Evagrium tom. 2, Where he checketh some of them for preferring themselves before Priests, and putteth them in remembrance of their first calling, that they be as the Levites were in respect of the Priests of the old Law. Finally by St. Ambrose li. 1 Offic. c. 41 and Prudentius in Hymno de S. Laurent. speaking of St. Laurence the Deacon, we may see their Office was most holy. See St. Augustine also of the dignity of Deacons ep. 108 ad Valerium, Conc. Carthag. 4. can. 37. 38. 39. 41.