| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. | 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. |
| 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. | 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. |
| 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. | 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 |
| 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. | 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." |
| 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: | 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. |
| 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. | 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. | 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. |
| 8And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. | 8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. | 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. |
| 10And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. | 10But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. |
| 11Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. | 11Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." |
| 12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, | 12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. |
| 13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: | 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. |
| 14For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. | 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us." |
| 15And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been 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. |
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