Acts, 6

1. At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

1. About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked.

2. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.

2. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food;

3. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task,

3. you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we can hand over this duty.

4. whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

4. We ourselves will continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.'

5. The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

5. The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

6. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.

6. They presented these to the apostles, and after prayer they laid their hands on them.

7. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

7. The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.

8. Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

8. Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.

9. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen,

9. Then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia.

10. but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

10. They found they could not stand up against him because of his wisdom, and the Spirit that prompted what he said.

11. Then they instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God."

11. So they procured some men to say, 'We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.'

12. They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

12. Having turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

13. They presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law.

13. There they put up false witnesses to say, 'This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law.

14. For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

14. We have heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us.'

15. All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

15. The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.