1 E n aquellos días, como creciera el número de los discípulos, hubo murmuración de los griegos contra los hebreos, de que las viudas de aquéllos eran desatendidas en la distribución diaria.

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 E ntonces los doce convocaron a la multitud de los discípulos, y dijeron: No es justo que nosotros dejemos la palabra de Dios, para servir a las mesas.

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 B uscad, pues, hermanos, de entre vosotros a siete varones de buen testimonio, llenos del Espíritu Santo y de sabiduría, a quienes encarguemos de este trabajo.

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

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

5 A gradó la propuesta 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;

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 a los cuales presentaron ante los apóstoles, quienes, orando, les impusieron las manos.

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

7 Y crecía la palabra del Señor, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba grandemente en Jerusalén; también muchos de los sacerdotes obedecían a la fe. Arresto de Esteban

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 Y Esteban, lleno de gracia y de poder, hacía grandes prodigios y señales entre el pueblo.

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

9 E ntonces se levantaron unos de la sinagoga llamada de los libertos, y de los de Cirene, de Alejandría, de Cilicia y de Asia, disputando con Esteban.

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 P ero no podían resistir a la sabiduría y al Espíritu con que hablaba.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.