| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. | 1In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. |
| 2So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. | 2Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, "It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters. |
| 3But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task. | 3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. |
| 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry." |
| 5The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. | 5The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. |
| 6They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. | 6They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 7The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. | 7So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. |
| 8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. | 8Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. | 9Then some from what is called the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen. |
| 10Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. | 10But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. |
| 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." | 11Then they persuaded some men to say, "We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!" |
| 12They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council. | 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin. |
| 13They brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law. | 13They also presented false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. |
| 14For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." | 14For we heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." |
| 15All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel. | 15And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel." |
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