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 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 and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, 'It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do 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 look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,

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 and we to prayer, and to the ministration of the word, will give ourselves continually.'

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

5 And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose 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,

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

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

7 And the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude also of the priests were obedient to 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 faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people,

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

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

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

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

11 then they suborned men, saying — 'We have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God.'

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

12 They did stir up also the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon [him], they caught him, and brought [him] to the sanhedrim;

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 they set up also false witnesses, saying, 'This one doth not cease to speak evil sayings against this 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 saying, That this Jesus the Nazarean shall overthrow this place, and shall change the customs that Moses delivered 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 and gazing at him, all those sitting in the sanhedrim saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.

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