1 A nd in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration,

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 a nd the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, `It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at 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 l ook out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,

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 a nd we to prayer, and to the ministration of the word, will give ourselves continually.'

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

5 A nd the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of 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 w hom they did set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid on them hands.

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

7 A nd the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude also 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 A nd Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people,

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

9 a nd there arose certain of those of the synagogue, called of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia, disputing 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 a nd they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking;

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

11 t hen they suborned men, saying -- `We have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God.'

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

12 T hey did stir up also the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon, they caught him, and brought to the sanhedrim;

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 t hey set up also false witnesses, saying, `This one doth not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy 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 saying, That this Jesus the Nazarean shall overthrow this place, and shall change the customs that Moses delivered 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 a nd gazing at him, all those sitting in the sanhedrim saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.

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.