| English Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 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. | 1In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. |
| 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. | 2So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. |
| 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. | 3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them |
| 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” | 4and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” |
| 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. | 5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. |
| 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 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. | 7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith. |
| 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. | 8Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 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. | 9But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen, |
| 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | 10but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. |
| 11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” | 11Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” |
| 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, | 12So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, |
| 13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, | 13where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. |
| 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.” | 14For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” |
| 15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. | 15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. |
| 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. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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