New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

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.

1

The Seven Chosen to Serve

But in those days, the disciples multiplying in number, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration.

2

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.

2

And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to [them], said, It is not right that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables.

3

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

3

Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of [the] [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business:

4

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

4

but *we* will give ourselves up to prayer and the ministry of the word.

5

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).

5

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,

6

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

6

whom they set before the apostles; and, having prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7

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

7

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.

8

Stephen Is Arrested

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

8

Stephen Arrested

And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought wonders and great signs among the people.

9

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.

9

And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10

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

10

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

11

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

11

Then they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

12

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

12

And they roused the people, and the elders, and the scribes. And coming upon [him] they seized him and brought [him] to the council.

13

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

13

And they set false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against the holy place and the law;

14

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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for we have heard him saying, This Jesus the Nazaraean shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses taught us.

15

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

15

And all who sat in the council, looking fixedly on him, saw his face as [the] face of an angel.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Acts 6

Acts 6