| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. | 1Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. |
| 2And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. | 2So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. |
| 3Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. | 3But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task. |
| 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” | 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." |
| 5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, 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 Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. | 5The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. |
| 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. | 6They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. |
| 7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. | 7The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. |
| 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. | 8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. |
| 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. | 9But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. |
| 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | 10Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. |
| 11Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” | 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." |
| 12And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, | 12They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council. |
| 13and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, | 13They brought forward false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law. |
| 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” | 14For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." |
| 15And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. | 15All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel. |
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