| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against 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 called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. | 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. |
| 3And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. | 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. |
| 4Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” | 4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." |
| 5Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). | 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. |
| 6These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them. | 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. |
| 7So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. Stephen Is Arrested | 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. |
| 8Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. | 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. | 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. |
| 10None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. | 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. |
| 11So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” | 11Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." |
| 12This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. | 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. |
| 13The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. | 13They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; |
| 14We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple 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." |
| 15At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. | 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | 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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