1 E n ce temps-là, le nombre des disciples augmentant, les Hellénistes murmurèrent contre les Hébreux, parce que leurs veuves étaient négligées dans la distribution qui se faisait chaque jour.

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 L es douze convoquèrent la multitude des disciples, et dirent: Il n'est pas convenable que nous laissions la parole de Dieu pour servir aux tables.

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 C 'est pourquoi, frères, choisissez parmi vous sept hommes, de qui l'on rende un bon témoignage, qui soient pleins d'Esprit Saint et de sagesse, et que nous chargerons de cet emploi.

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 E t nous, nous continuerons à nous appliquer à la prière et au ministère de la parole.

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

5 C ette proposition plut à toute l'assemblée. Ils élurent Étienne, homme plein de foi et d'Esprit Saint, Philippe, Prochore, Nicanor, Timon, Parménas, et Nicolas, prosélyte d'Antioche.

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 I ls les présentèrent aux apôtres, qui, après avoir prié, leur imposèrent les mains.

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

7 L a parole de Dieu se répandait de plus en plus, le nombre des disciples augmentait beaucoup à Jérusalem, et une grande foule de sacrificateurs obéissaient à la foi.

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 É tienne, plein de grâce et de puissance, faisait des prodiges et de grands miracles parmi le peuple.

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

9 Q uelques membres de la synagogue dite des Affranchis, de celle des Cyrénéens et de celle des Alexandrins, avec des Juifs de Cilicie et d'Asie, se mirent à discuter avec lui;

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 m ais ils ne pouvaient résister à sa sagesse et à l'Esprit par lequel il parlait.

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

11 A lors ils subornèrent des hommes qui dirent: Nous l'avons entendu proférer des paroles blasphématoires contre Moïse et contre Dieu.

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

12 I ls émurent le peuple, les anciens et les scribes, et, se jetant sur lui, ils le saisirent, et l'emmenèrent au sanhédrin.

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 I ls produisirent de faux témoins, qui dirent: Cet homme ne cesse de proférer des paroles contre le lieu saint et contre la loi;

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

14 c ar nous l'avons entendu dire que Jésus, ce Nazaréen, détruira ce lieu, et changera les coutumes que Moïse nous a données.

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 ous ceux qui siégeaient au sanhédrin ayant fixé les regards sur Étienne, son visage leur parut comme celui d'un ange.

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.