Acts 6

1 About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Greek speaking Jews against the Aramaic speaking Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them, ‘It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God’s message.

And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Therefore, friends, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter;

Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the delivery of the message.’

But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

5 This proposal was unanimously agreed to; and the disciples chose Stephen – a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit – and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism;

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

6 and they brought these men to the apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them.

whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

7 So God’s message spread, and the number of the disciples continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the faith.

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

8 Meanwhile Stephen, divinely helped and strengthened, was showing great wonders and signs among the people.

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

9 But some members of the Synagogue of the Freed Slaves (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen;

But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke.

And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.

11 Then they induced some men to assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God;

Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.

12 and they stirred up the people, as well as the elders and the teachers of the Law, and set on Stephen, and arrested him, and brought him before the High Council.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,

13 There they produced witnesses who gave false evidence. ‘This man,’ they said, ‘is incessantly saying things against this holy place and the Law;

and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

14 indeed, we have heard him declare that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs handed down to us by Moses.’

for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.

15 The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted on Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel.

And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.