Acts 6

1 And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministry,

In those days, as the disciples increased in number, a complaint arose against the Hebrews on the part of the Hellenists that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2 and the Twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, minister at tables;

So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said, “It is not proper for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.

3 look out, therefore, brothers, seven men of you who are testified well of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,

Therefore, brothers, look for seven men among you who have a good reputation and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint for this need.

4 and we to prayer, and to the ministry of the word, will give ourselves continually.”

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 And the thing was pleasing before all the 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

This proposal pleased the whole multitude, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, an Antiochean convert to Judaism.

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

They set these men before the apostles, who then prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude of the priests were also obedient to the faith.

So the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people,

Now Stephen, a man full of faith and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 and there arose certain of those of the synagogue, the [one] called Libertines (and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia), disputing with Stephen,

But some men from the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), along with some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some men from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and began to argue with Stephen.

10 and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking;

But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

11 then they suborned men, saying, “We have heard him speaking slanderous sayings in regard to Moses and God.”

Then they induced some men to say, “We heard Stephen speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

12 They also stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come on [him], they caught him, and brought [him] to the Sanhedrin;

They also stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. So they came up to Stephen, seized him, and brought him to the Sanhedrin.

13 they also set up false witnesses, saying, “This one does not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy place and the Law,

Then they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and against the law.

14 for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarean will overthrow this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us”;

For we heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

15 and gazing at him, all those sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.

And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen intently and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.