Acts 6

1 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.

Now in those days, as the number of disciples increased, there rose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

2 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.

So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, It is not seemly that we should leave the word of God and attend at tables.

3 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.

Wherefore, brethren, look out from among you seven men of good character, full of the holy Spirit, and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this matter:

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

but we will constantly attend to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 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.

And the advice 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 Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch.

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

These they set before the apostles; who, when they had prayed, laid their hands upon them.

7 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.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was greatly multiplied; and a great number of the priests became obedient to the faith.

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

Now Stephen being full of grace and power, wrought miracles and great signs among the people.

9 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.

But there rose up some of the synagogue, which is called that of the libertines, and some of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and Asia, to dispute with Stephen:

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

and they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake.

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

Then they suborned men to say, we heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

12 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.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, and forced him along with them, and brought him to the council:

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

and they set up false witnesses; who said, This man is continually speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law.

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

For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the rites which Moses delivered to us.

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

(And all that were sitting in the council, looking stedfastly at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.)