Acts 6

1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was increasing, protests were made by the Greek Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were not taken care of in the distribution of food every day.

1Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2And the Apostles sent for all the disciples and said, It is not right for us to give up preaching the word of God in order to make distribution of food.

2And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.

3Take then from among you seven men of good name, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, to whom we may give control of this business.

3Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4Then we will give all our time to prayer and the teaching of the word.

4But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

5And this saying was pleasing to all of them: and they made selection of Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas of Antioch, who had become a Jew:

5And the saying pleased the whole 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 Nicolaüs a proselyte of Antioch;

6These they took to the Apostles, who, after prayer, put their hands on them.

6whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

7And the word of God was increasing in power; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem became very great, and a great number of priests were in agreement with the faith.

7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

8And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.

9But some of those who were of the Synagogue named that of the Libertines, and some of the men of Cyrene and of Alexandria and those from Cilicia and Asia, had arguments with Stephen.

9But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue calledthe synagogueof the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10But they were not able to get the better of him, for his words were full of wisdom and of the Spirit.

10And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.

11Then they got men to say, He has said evil against Moses and against God, in our hearing.

11Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12And the people, with the rulers and the scribes, were moved against him, and they came and took him before the Sanhedrin,

12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,

13And they got false witnesses who said, This man is for ever saying things against this holy place and against the law:

13and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

14For he has said in our hearing that this Jesus of Nazareth will put this place to destruction and make changes in the rules which were handed down to us by Moses.

14for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.

15And all those who were in the Sanhedrin, looking at him, saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

15And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.