1 E N 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 at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

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 á las mesas.

So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

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

Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

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

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

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

The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6 A estos presentaron delante de los apóstoles, los cuales orando les pusieron las manos encima.

And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

7 Y crecía la palabra del Señor, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba mucho en Jerusalem: también una gran multitud de los sacerdotes obedecía á la fe.

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

8 E mpero Esteban, lleno de gracia y de potencia, hacía prodigios y milagros grandes en el pueblo.

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

9 L evantáronse 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.

But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

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

But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

11 E ntonces sobornaron á unos que dijesen que le habían oído hablar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y Dios.

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

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

And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.

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

They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;

14 P orque le hemos oído decir, que Jesús de Nazaret destruirá este lugar, y mudará las ordenanzas que nos dió Moisés.

for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down 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.

And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.