Acts 6

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

During that time, as the followers grew in number, the Greek-speaking Jews among them began to grumble against those who spoke Hebrew. They felt their widows were being overlooked in the daily sharing of food.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

The twelve leaders gathered all the followers and passionately said, "It doesn't make sense for us to abandon God's teachings just to wait on tables."

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Dear brothers, find seven trustworthy and wise men among you, filled with the Holy Spirit, who we can entrust with this task.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

We will passionately devote ourselves to constant prayer and wholeheartedly serve through sharing the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

The crowd was overjoyed and unanimously chose Stephen, a man brimming with faith and touched by the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a devoted convert from Antioch.

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

They presented them to the apostles, who after praying, lovingly placed their hands on them.

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

God's message spread rapidly, touching many hearts in Jerusalem. The number of followers grew exponentially, even the priests couldn't resist the pull of faith.

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Stephen, brimming with faith and strength, performed extraordinary and miraculous deeds that left the people in awe.

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Some members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, began to passionately argue with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

They simply couldn't stand against the profound wisdom and spirited passion in his words.

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

They bribed people to lie, claiming, "We heard him speak blasphemy against Moses and against God."

And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

They roused the crowd, the elders, and the scholars, ambushed him, seized him, and dragged him before the council.

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

They arranged liars to testify, claiming, "This man never stops speaking blasphemy against this sacred place and our law."

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

We've heard him declare that this Jesus from Nazareth will tear down this place and alter the sacred practices Moses handed down to us.

And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Everyone in the council, gazing intently at him, saw his face glow with an angelic radiance.