The Choosing of the Seven (1 Timothy 3:8–13)
1 UDB During that time many more people were becoming believers. The believers who spoke Greek complained to those who spoke Hebrew that the Greek widows were being overlooked when help for the widows was given out each 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 UDB So, after the twelve apostles had heard what they were saying, they summoned all the other believers in Jerusalem to meet together. Then the apostles said to them, "We would not be doing right if we stopped preaching and teaching God's message 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 UDB So, fellow believers, carefully choose seven men from among you, men whom you know that 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 UDB As for us, we will keep on using our time to pray and to preach and teach the message about Jesus." BSB BSB: and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 UDB What the apostles recommended pleased all of the other believers. So they chose Stephen, a man who strongly believed in God and was guided by the Holy Spirit in all he did. They also chose Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, who was from the city of Antioch. Nicolas had accepted the Jewish religion before he had believed in Jesus. 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 UDB The believers brought these seven men to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed for those men and placed their hands on the heads of each one of them to cause them to do that work. BSB BSB: They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 UDB So the believers continued to tell many people the message from God. The number of people in Jerusalem who believed in Jesus was increasing greatly. Among them were many Jewish priests who were following the message about how they should trust in Jesus. 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.
The Arrest of Stephen 8 UDB 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 UDB 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 UDB So they secretly persuaded some men to falsely accuse Stephen. 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 UDB So they made the other Jewish people angry at Stephen, including the elders and the teachers of the Jewish laws. Then they all seized Stephen 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 UDB They also brought in some men and paid them money so they would give false testimony. They said, "This fellow 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 UDB What we mean is that we have heard him say that this Jesus from the town of Nazareth will destroy this temple and will tell us to obey different customs than 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 UDB 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.