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.

About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually 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.

So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said, "It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should neglect the delivery of God's Message and minister at tables.

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

Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.

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

But, as for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the delivery of the Message."

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).

The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, 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.

These men they brought to the Apostles, and, after prayer, they laid their hands upon 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.

Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many 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, performed great marvels and 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.

But some members of the so-called 'Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.

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

They were quite unable, however, 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 privately put forward men who declared, "We have heard him speak blasphemous things against Moses and against 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,

In this way they excited the people, the Elders, and the Scribes. At length they came upon him, seized him with violence, and took him before the Sanhedrin.

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

Here they brought forward false witnesses who declared, "This fellow is incessantly speaking 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 say that Jesus, the Nazarene, will pull this place down to the ground and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us."

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

At once the eyes of all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin were fastened on him, and they saw his face looking just like the face of an angel.