| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. | 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. |
| 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. | 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. |
| 3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them | 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. |
| 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." | 4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." |
| 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. | 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. |
| 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. |
| 7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. | 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. |
| 8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. | 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia--who began to argue with Stephen. | 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. |
| 10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. | 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. |
| 11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." | 11Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." |
| 12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. | 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. |
| 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. | 13They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; |
| 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." | 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." |
| 15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. | 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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 |
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