1 ARST During that time, many more people were becoming believers. The Greek- speaking Jews began to complain about the Aramaic- speaking Jews because the widows among them were not receiving their fair share of food every day. BSB BSB: In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 ARST So{ after} Jesus’ 12 representatives{ had heard what they were saying, they} summoned all the other believers{ in Jerusalem} to meet together. Then they said to them,“We would not be doing the right thing if we stopped telling people the message God told us to share about Jesus in order to distribute food to people! BSB BSB: So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 ARST So, fellow believers, carefully choose seven men from among you, men whom you know the Spirit of God directs and who are very wise. Then we will instruct them to do this work. BSB BSB: Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will assign this responsibility to them
4 ARST As for us, we will keep on using our time to pray and to proclaim the news about Jesus.” BSB BSB: and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 ARST All of the disciples liked their suggestion. So they chose Stephen, a man who strongly believed in God and whom the Holy Spirit controlled completely. They also chose Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, who was from the city of Antioch. Nicolas was a former Gentile who had converted to the Jewish religion. BSB BSB: This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
6 ARST The believers brought these seven men to the Representatives, who prayed for those men. As they prayed, they placed their hands on the men’ s heads to show that they approved of them to do that work. BSB BSB: They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 ARST More and more people were hearing the news about Jesus. The number of people in Jerusalem who believed in Jesus was increasing greatly. Among them were very many Jewish priests. They put their trust in Jesus as the Messiah and so they began to live in the way he said they should. BSB BSB: So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
8 ARST God was giving Stephen power to do many amazing miracles among the people{ that showed that the message about Jesus was true}. BSB BSB: Now Stephen, who was full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
10 ARST But they were not able to prove that what he said was wrong, because God’ s Spirit enabled him to speak very wisely. BSB BSB: but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.
11 ARST So they secretly persuaded some men to accuse Stephen falsely. Those men said,“We heard him say bad things about Moses and God.” BSB BSB: Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
12 ARST They also made the other Jewish people angry at Stephen, including the elders and the teachers of the Jewish laws. They came up to Stephen, grabbed him, and took him to the Jewish council. BSB BSB: So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,
13 ARST They also brought in some people who told lies about Stephen. They said,“This man keeps saying bad things about this holy temple and about the laws that Moses received from God. BSB BSB: where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.
14 ARST What we mean is that we have heard him say that this Jesus from the town of Nazareth will destroy the temple here in Jerusalem and will tell us to obey different customs from the ones that Moses taught our ancestors.” BSB BSB: For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15 ARST All the people in the council room stared at Stephen and saw that his face resembled the face of an angel. BSB BSB: All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.