Acts 6

1 At this time, when the number of believers was increasing rapidly, the Greek-speaking believers started arguing with the Aramaic-speaking believers. They complained that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

But in those days, the disciples multiplying in number, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration.

2 The twelve apostles called all the believers together, and told them, “It's not appropriate for us to give up spreading the word of God so we can wait at tables.

And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to [them], said, It is not right that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables.

3 Brothers, choose from among you seven trustworthy men full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will hand this responsibility over to them.

Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of [the] [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business:

4 We ourselves will give our full attention to prayer and the ministry of spreading the word.”

but we will give ourselves up to prayer and the ministry of the word.

5 Everybody was happy with the arrangement, and they chose Stephen, (a man full of trust in God and of the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus (originally a Jewish convert from Antioch).

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,

6 These men were presented to the apostles who prayed for them and placed their hands on them in blessing.

whom they set before the apostles; and, having prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem greatly increased, with a large number of priests committing themselves to trusting in Jesus.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.

8 Stephen, full of grace and God's power, performed wonderful miracles among the people.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought wonders and great signs among the people.

9 But some started arguing with him. They were from the synagogue called “the Free,” as well as Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia Minor.

And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 But they weren't able to stand against Stephen's wisdom or the Spirit with which he was speaking.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this man blaspheme Moses, and God too!”

Then they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

12 They stirred up the people, and together with the elders and the teachers of the law, they came and arrested him. They brought him before the council,

And they roused the people, and the elders, and the scribes. And coming upon [him] they seized him and brought [him] to the council.

13 and called false witnesses who testified against him. “This man is always slandering the holy Temple and the law,” they said.

And they set false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against the holy place and the law;

14 “We've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple, and will change the laws we received from Moses.”

for we have heard him saying, This Jesus the Nazaraean shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses taught us.

15 Everyone sitting on the council looked closely at Stephen, and his face shone like the face of an angel.

And all who sat in the council, looking fixedly on him, saw his face as [the] face of an angel.