New International Version

New Living Translation

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jewsa among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

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Seven Men Chosen to Serve

But as the believersa 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.

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So 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.

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So 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.

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Brothers 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

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And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.

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and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

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Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

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This 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.

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Everyone 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).

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They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

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These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

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So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

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So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

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Stephen Seized

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

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Stephen Is Arrested

Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

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Opposition 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.

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But 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.

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But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

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None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

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Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

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So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.”

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So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

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This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.b

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They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

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The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.

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For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

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We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazarethc will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

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All 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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At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.

Parallel

New International Version

New Living Translation

Acts 6

Acts 6