| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 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 the disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God 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. |
| 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. | 3And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. |
| 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” |
| 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. | 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 stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. | 6These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they 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 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 miraculous 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 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. | 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. |
| 10Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. | 10None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. |
| 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard this man 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 incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized 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 brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and 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 saying that Jesus the Nazarene 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.” |
| 15All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw 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. |
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