Seven Leaders Are Chosen

6 The number of ·followers [disciples] was ·growing [multiplying]. But during ·this same time [those days], the ·Greek-speaking followers [^LHellenists; ^CJewish Christians who spoke primarily Greek and had returned to Israel after living abroad] ·had an argument with [began grumbling/complaining against] the ·other followers [^LHebrews; ^CAramaic speaking Jewish Christians born in Israel]. The Greek-speaking widows were ·not getting their share [being neglected/overlooked in the distribution] of the food that was given out every day. ² The ·twelve apostles [Twelve] called the whole group of ·followers [^Ldisciples] together and said, “It is not right for us to ·stop our work of teaching God’s word [^Lleave/abandon the word of God] in order to serve tables. ³ So, ·brothers and sisters [or brothers; ^Cuncertain whether women would have been included in that culture], choose seven of your own men who ·are good [have a good reputation], full of the Spirit and full of wisdom. We will ·put [appoint] them in charge of this ·work [responsibility; ^Lneed]. ⁴ Then we [apostles] can ·continue [devote ourselves] to pray and to ·teach [^Lthe ministry/service of] the word of God.”

⁵ The whole group ·liked [was pleased with] the idea, so they chose these seven men: Stephen (a man ·with great [^Lfull of] faith and full of the Holy Spirit), Philip [^Cnot the apostle of the same name], Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a man from Antioch [^Ca major city in Syria] who ·had become a follower of the Jewish religion [^Lwas a prosylete; ^Ca Gentile convert to Judaism]. ⁶ Then they ·put [presented] these men before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands [^Ca ritual of blessing and/or conferring of authority] on them.

⁷ The word of God was continuing to spread. The ·group [number] of ·followers [disciples] in Jerusalem [quickly; or greatly] ·increased [multiplied], and a great number of the Jewish priests ·believed and obeyed [^Lbecome obedient to the faith].

Stephen Is Accused

⁸ Stephen was ·richly blessed by God who gave him the power [^Lfull of grace and power] to do great ·miracles [wonders] and signs among the people. ⁹ But some people ·were [rose up] against him. They belonged to the synagogue of Free Men [^CJews who were freed slaves] (as it was called), which included people from Cyrene, Alexandria [^Cboth in North Africa], Cilicia, and Asia [^Cboth in Asia Minor, present-day Turkey]. They all ·came [rose up; came forward] and ·argued [debated; disputed] with Stephen.

¹⁰ But ·the Spirit was helping him to speak with wisdom, and his words were so strong that they could not argue with him [^Lthey could not resist the wisdom and Spirit/spirit by which he spoke]. ¹¹ So they ·secretly urged [or bribed] some men to say, “We heard Stephen ·speak [^Lspeaking blasphemous words] against Moses and against God.”

¹² They ·stirred up [roused; incited] the people, the elders, and the teachers of the law. They ·came [or confronted] and grabbed Stephen and brought him to ·a meeting of the leaders [^Lthe Sanhedrin; 4:15]. ¹³ They brought in some ·people to tell lies about Stephen [^Lfalse witnesses], saying, “This man is always speaking against this holy place [^Cthe Temple] and the law of Moses. ¹⁴ We heard him say that Jesus ·from Nazareth [or the Nazarene] will destroy this place and that Jesus will change the customs Moses gave us [^Cfor a similar charge leveled against Jesus see Matt. 26:61; Mark 14:58].” ¹⁵ All the people [who sat] in the ·meeting [^LSanhedrin; 4:15] ·were watching Stephen closely [or stared intently at Stephen] ·and [or because they] saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.