| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 1Now 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. | 1In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. |
| 2So 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. | 2So the Twelve called the whole group of disciples together and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from God in order to wait on tables. |
| 3"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. | 3Therefore, brothers, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we'll put them in charge of this work. |
| 4"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." | 4Then we'll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." |
| 5The 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. | 5This suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. |
| 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. | 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. |
| 7The 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. | 7So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. |
| 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. | 8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. |
| 9But 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. | 9But some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen. |
| 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. | 10But they could neither refute the wisdom nor withstand the Spirit by which he kept speaking. |
| 11Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." | 11So they secretly got some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." |
| 12And 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. | 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, grabbed him, and brought him before the Council. |
| 13They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; | 13They had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against the Law. |
| 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." | 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." |
| 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel. | 15Then everyone who was seated in the Council glared at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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