1 N ow about this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief).

In those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was given out each day.

2 S o the Twelve convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food.

So the twelve missionaries called a meeting of the many followers and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to hand out food.

3 T herefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.

Brothers, choose from among you seven men who are respected and who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will have them take care of this work.

4 B ut we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Then we will use all of our time to pray and to teach the Word of God.”

5 A nd the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith (a strong and welcome belief that Jesus is the Messiah) and full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte (convert) from Antioch.

These words pleased all of them. They chose Stephen who was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas of Antioch who had become a Jew.

6 T hese they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them.

These men were taken to the missionaries. After praying, the missionaries laid their hands on them.

7 A nd the message of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem; and a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The Word of God spread further. The group of followers became much larger in Jerusalem. Many of the religious leaders believed in the faith of the Christians. Stephen Is Brought in Front of the Religious Leaders’ Court

8 N ow Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favor) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people.

Stephen was a man full of faith and power. He did many great things among the people.

9 H owever, some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves), as it was called, and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and Asia, arose to debate and dispute with Stephen.

But some men came from their place of worship who were known as the Free people. They started to argue with Stephen. These men were from the countries of Cyrene and Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia.

10 B ut they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.

Stephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said.

11 S o they instigated and instructed men to say, We have heard this man speak, using slanderous and abusive and blasphemous language against Moses and God.

So they told other men to say, “We have heard him say things against Moses and God.”

12 t hey incited the people as well as the elders and the scribes, and they came upon Stephen and arrested him and took him before the council (Sanhedrin).

In this way they got the people talking against Stephen. The leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came and took him to the religious leaders’ court.

13 A nd they brought forward false witnesses who asserted, This man never stops making statements against this sacred place and the Law;

The people were told to lie and say, “This man keeps on talking against this place of worship and the Law of Moses.

14 F or we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down and destroy this place, and will alter the institutions and usages which Moses transmitted to us.

We have heard him say, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is going to pull down this place. He is going to change what Moses taught us.’”

15 T hen all who sat in the council (Sanhedrin), as they gazed intently at Stephen, saw that his face had the appearance of the face of an angel.

The men sitting in the religious leaders’ court were looking at Stephen. They all saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.