Acts 6

1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint by the Grecian Jews began against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

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 The twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, “It is not right for us to give up the word of God in order to serve 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 You should therefore choose, brothers, seven men from among yourselves, men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

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 As for us, we will always continue in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”

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

5 Their speech pleased the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from 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 The believers brought these men before the apostles, who prayed and then placed their hands upon them.

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

7 So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of the priests became 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 Now Stephen, full of grace 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 But there arose some people who belonged to the synagogue called the synagogue of the Freedmen, of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia. These people were debating 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 But they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

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

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

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

12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they approached Stephen and seized him and brought him before the council.

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 brought false witnesses, who said, “This man does not stop speaking words 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 say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down 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 Everyone who sat in the council fixed their eyes on him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

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