GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 At that time, as the number of disciples grew, Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Hebrew-speaking Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food and other assistance was distributed.
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Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, "It's not right for us to give up God's word in order to distribute food.
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Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem.
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Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 However, we will devote ourselves to praying and to serving in ways that are related to the word."
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but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
5 The suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, who had converted to Judaism in the city of Antioch.
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And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 The disciples had these men stand in front of the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on these seven men.
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whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 The word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew very large. A large number of priests accepted the faith.
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Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen was a man filled with God's favor and power. He did amazing things and performed miracles.
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And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9 [One day] some men from the cities of Cyrene and Alexandria and the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started an argument with Stephen. They belonged to a synagogue called Freedmen's Synagogue.
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Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
10 They couldn't argue with Stephen because he spoke with the wisdom that the Spirit had given him.
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And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they bribed some men to lie. These men said, "We heard him slander Moses and God."
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Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
12 The liars stirred up trouble among the people, the leaders, and the scribes. So they went to Stephen, took him by force, and brought him in front of the Jewish council.
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And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
13 Some witnesses stood up and lied about Stephen. They said, "This man never stops saying bad things about the holy place and Moses' Teachings.
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They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
14 We heard him say that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy the temple and change the customs that Moses gave us."
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for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us."
15 Everyone who sat in the council stared at him and saw that his face looked like an angel's face.
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And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.