1 ¶ En aquellos días, creciendo el número de los discípulos, hubo murmuración de los griegos contra los hebreos, de que sus viudas eran menospreciadas en el ministerio cotidiano.

Now 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).

2 A sí que, los doce convocaron la multitud de los discípulos, y dijeron: No es justo que nosotros dejemos la palabra de Dios, y sirvamos a las mesas.

So 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.

3 B uscad pues, hermanos, siete varones de vosotros de buen testimonio, llenos del Espíritu Santo y de sabiduría, los cuales pongamos en esta obra.

Therefore 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.

4 Y nosotros persistiremos en la oración, y en el ministerio de la palabra.

But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

5 Y agradó el parecer a toda la multitud; y eligieron a Esteban, varón lleno de fe y del Espíritu Santo, a Felipe, a Prócoro, a Nicanor, a Timón, a Parmenas, y a Nicolás, prosélito de Antioquía;

And 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.

6 a éstos presentaron delante de los apóstoles, los cuales orando les pusieron las manos encima.

These they presented to the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands on them.

7 Y crecía la palabra del Señor, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba mucho en Jerusalén; también mucha compañía de los sacerdotes obedecía a la fe.

And 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.

8 ¶ Pero Esteban, lleno de fe y de potencia, hacía prodigios y milagros grandes en el pueblo.

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

9 S e levantaron entonces unos de la sinagoga que se llama de los libertinos, y cireneos, y alejandrinos, y de los de Cilicia, y de Asia, disputando con Esteban.

However, 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.

10 M as no podían resistir a la sabiduría y al Espíritu que hablaba.

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

11 E ntonces sobornaron a unos para que dijeran que le habían oído hablar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y Dios.

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

12 Y conmovieron al pueblo, y a los ancianos, y a los escribas; y arremetiendo le arrebataron, y le trajeron al concilio.

they 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).

13 Y pusieron testigos falsos, que dijeran: Este hombre no cesa de hablar palabras blasfemas contra este lugar santo y la ley;

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

14 p orque le hemos oído decir, que Jesús de Nazaret destruirá este lugar, y cambiará las tradiciones que nos dio Moisés.

For 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.

15 E ntonces todos los que estaban sentados en el concilio, puestos los ojos en él, vieron su rostro como el rostro de un ángel.

Then 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.