| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 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, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected 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 called the whole group of disciples together and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from 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, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we'll put them in charge of this work. |
| 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” | 4Then we'll 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 suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. |
| 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6They had these men stand before 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, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large 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, 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 some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen. |
| 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | 10But they could neither refute the wisdom nor withstand the Spirit by which he kept speaking. |
| 11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” | 11So they secretly got some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and 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, | 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, grabbed him, and brought him before the Council. |
| 13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, | 13They had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things 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 this Jesus from 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. | 15Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and 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 Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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