Acts 6

1 And in those dayes, as the nomber of ye disciples grewe, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians towards ye Hebrewes, because their widowes were neglected in the dayly ministring.

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.

2 Then the twelue called the multitude of the disciples together, and sayd, It is not meete that we should leaue the worde of God to serue the tables.

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.

3 Wherefore brethren, looke ye out among you seuen men of honest report, and full of the holy Ghost, and of wisedome, which we may appoint to this busines.

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

4 And we will giue our selues continually to prayer, and to the ministration of the worde.

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

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Steuen a man full of fayth and of the holy Ghost, and Philippe, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a Proselyte of Antiochia,

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).

6 Which they set before the Apostles: and they prayed, and layed their hands on them.

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

7 And the worde of God increased, and the nomber of the disciples was multipled in Hierusalem greatly, and a great company of the Priests were obedient to the faith.

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.

8 Now Steuen full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

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

9 Then there arose certaine of the Synagogue, which are called Libertines, and Cyrenians, and of Alexandria, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, and disputed with Steuen.

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.

10 But they were not able to resist the wisdome, and the Spirit by the which he spake.

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

11 Then they suborned men, which saide, We haue heard him speake blasphemous wordes against Moses, and God.

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

12 Thus they mooued the people and the Elders, and the Scribes: and running vpon him, caught him, and brought him to the Councill,

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,

13 And set forth false witnesses, which sayd, This man ceasseth not to speake blasphemous wordes against this holy place, and the Law.

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

14 For we haue heard him say, that this Iesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the ordinances, which Moses gaue vs.

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

15 And as all that sate in the Councill, looked stedfastly on him, they saw his face as it had bene the face of an Angel.

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