| International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. | 1But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. |
| 2So the Twelve called the whole group of disciples together and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from God in order to wait on tables. | 2So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. |
| 3Therefore, brothers, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we'll put them in charge of this work. | 3And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. |
| 4Then we'll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” |
| 5This suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. | 5Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). |
| 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. |
| 7So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. | 7So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Stephen Is Arrested |
| 8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. | 8Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. |
| 9But some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen. | 9But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. |
| 10But they could neither refute the wisdom nor withstand the Spirit by which he kept speaking. | 10None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. |
| 11So they secretly got some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." | 11So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” |
| 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, grabbed him, and brought him before the Council. | 12This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. |
| 13They had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against the Law. | 13The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. |
| 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." | 14We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” |
| 15Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. | 15At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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