| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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 disciples together and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from God in order 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. |
| 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. | 3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. |
| 4Then we'll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry." |
| 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. | 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 had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 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. | 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 signs among the people. | 8Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 10But they could neither refute the wisdom nor withstand the Spirit by which he kept speaking. | 10But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. |
| 11So they secretly got some men to say, "We have heard him 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 stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, grabbed 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 had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against 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 say that this Jesus from Nazareth 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." |
| 15Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and saw that 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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