Acts 6

Modern

Literal

The Choosing of the Seven

¹In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews^a because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

¹Now in these days of the disciples multiplying, there arose a grumbling of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

²So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

²So the Twelve, having summoned the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not desirable for us, having neglected the word of God, to attend tables.

³Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them

³Therefore, brothers, select from yourselves seven men being well attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task.

⁴and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁴And we will steadfastly continue in prayer and the ministry of the word.”

⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.^a

⁵And the statement was pleasing before all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert of Antioch,

⁶They presented these seven to the apostles,^a who prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁶whom they set before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid the hands on them.

⁷So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

⁷And the word of God kept increasing, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly, and a great multitude of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

The Arrest of Stephen

⁸Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

⁸Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

⁹But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia.^a They disputed with Stephen,

⁹But there arose certain ones of those of the synagogue called Freedmen—including Cyrenians and Alexandrians and those from Cilicia and Asia—disputing with Stephen.

¹⁰but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

¹⁰And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

¹¹Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”

¹¹Then they suborned men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”

¹²So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,^a

¹²And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes; and having come upon him, they seized him and brought him to the Council.

¹³where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

¹³And they set up false witnesses, saying, “This man does not stop speaking words against this holy place and the law.

¹⁴For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

¹⁴For we have heard him saying that this Jesus of Nazareth will demolish this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

¹⁵All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

¹⁵And having looked intently on him, all the ones sitting in the Council saw his face as the face of an angel.