Acts 6

1 About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily ministration.

Now in those days, as the disciples were multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

2 So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said, "It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should neglect the delivery of God's Message and minister at tables.

So summoning the multitude of the disciples the twelve said: “It is not advantageous that we should forsake the Word of God to serve at tables.

3 Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.

4 But, as for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the delivery of the Message."

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

5 The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

The statement pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch,

6 These men they brought to the Apostles, and, after prayer, they laid their hands upon them.

whom they set before the Apostles; and after praying they laid hands on them.

7 Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many priests obeyed the faith.

Well the Word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem kept multiplying at a great rate, and a large company of the priests were obeying the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great marvels and signs among the people.

While Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 But some members of the so-called 'Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.

Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

10 They were quite unable, however, to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

11 Then they privately put forward men who declared, "We have heard him speak blasphemous things against Moses and against God."

Then they instigated men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

12 In this way they excited the people, the Elders, and the Scribes. At length they came upon him, seized him with violence, and took him before the Sanhedrin.

And they stirred up the people, and the elders and the scribes; and coming upon him they seized him, and brought him in to the Sanhedrin;

13 Here they brought forward false witnesses who declared, "This fellow is incessantly speaking against the Holy Place and the Law.

and they put forward false witnesses who said: “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law;

14 For we have heard him say that Jesus, the Nazarene, will pull this place down to the ground and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us."

for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Natsorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

15 At once the eyes of all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin were fastened on him, and they saw his face looking just like the face of an angel.

All who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw his face like the face of an angel.