| New American Standard Bible 1995 | English Standard Version |
| 1Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. | 1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. |
| 2So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. | 2And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. |
| 3"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. | 3Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. |
| 4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” |
| 5The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. | 5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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. |
| 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. | 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. | 7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. |
| 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. | 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. | 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. |
| 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. |
| 11Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." | 11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” |
| 12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. | 12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, |
| 13They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; | 13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, |
| 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." | 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” |
| 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. | 15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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