Acts 6

The apostles appointed seven men, including Stephen, to serve the daily distribution so that they could devote themselves to prayer and the word. Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders, and his opponents in the synagogue brought false witnesses against him before the council.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	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.	In those days when the number of disciples was growing, the Hellenistic Jews complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2	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.	So the twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables."
3	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.	"Brothers, choose seven men from among You who are known to be full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them."
4	But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.	"We will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5	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:	This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost; also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
6	Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.	They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7	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.	So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8	And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.	Now Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9	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.	Opposition arose from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen — as it was called — along with Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria, and from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen.
10	And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.	But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave Him as He spoke.
11	Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.	Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."
12	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,	This stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
13	And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:	They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law."
14	For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.	"For we have heard Him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."
15	And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.	All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.