Acts.6.1

During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers--"Hellenists"-toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines.

Acts.6.1

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Acts.6.1

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.

Acts.6.1

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

Acts.6.2

So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, "It wouldn't be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor.

Acts.6.2

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.

Acts.6.2

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.

Acts.6.2

So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. "We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said.

Acts.6.3

So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we'll assign them this task.

Acts.6.3

Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them

Acts.6.3

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;

Acts.6.3

"Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business.

Acts.6.4

Meanwhile, we'll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God's Word."

Acts.6.4

and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

Acts.6.4

but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

Acts.6.4

Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word."

Acts.6.5

The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose--Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.

Acts.6.5

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Acts.6.5

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,

Acts.6.5

This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian).

Acts.6.6

Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task.

Acts.6.6

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

Acts.6.6

whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

Acts.6.6

These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

Acts.6.7

The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith. [JC]

Acts.6.7

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts.6.7

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.

Acts.6.7

God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Acts.6.8

Stephen, brimming with God's grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them.

Acts.6.8

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

Acts.6.8

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts.6.8

Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

Acts.6.9

But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down.

Acts.6.9

Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)--Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen,

Acts.6.9

Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

Acts.6.9

But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.

Acts.6.10

But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke.

Acts.6.10

but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Acts.6.10

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Acts.6.10

None of them was able to stand against the wisdom and Spirit by which Stephen spoke.

Acts.6.11

So in secret they bribed men to lie: "We heard him cursing Moses and God."

Acts.6.11

Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God."

Acts.6.11

Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."

Acts.6.11

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, "We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God."

Acts.6.12

That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council

Acts.6.12

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

Acts.6.12

And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.

Acts.6.12

Naturally, this roused the crowds, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.

Acts.6.13

They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: "This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God's Law.

Acts.6.13

They produced false witnesses, who testified, "This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Acts.6.13

They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;

Acts.6.13

The lying witnesses said, "This man is always speaking against the Temple and against the law of Moses.

Acts.6.14

We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us."

Acts.6.14

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Acts.6.14

for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us."

Acts.6.14

We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us."

Acts.6.15

As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn't take their eyes off him--his face was like the face of an angel!

Acts.6.15

All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts.6.15

And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Acts.6.15

At this point everyone in the council stared at Stephen because his face became as bright as an angel's.

Acts.7.1

Then the Chief Priest said, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Acts.7.1

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges true?"

Acts.7.1

Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"

Acts.7.1

Then the high priest asked Stephen, "Are these accusations true?"

Acts.7.2

Stephen replied, "Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran,

Acts.7.2

To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran.

Acts.7.2

And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

Acts.7.2

This was Stephen's reply: "Brothers and honorable fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he moved to Haran.

Acts.7.3

and told him, "Leave your country and family and go to the land I'll show you.'

Acts.7.3

'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.'

Acts.7.3

and said to him, "Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.'

Acts.7.3

God told him, 'Leave your native land and your relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.'

Acts.7.4

"So he left the country of the Chaldees and moved to Haran. After the death of his father, he immigrated to this country where you now live,

Acts.7.4

"So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.

Acts.7.4

Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.

Acts.7.4

So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.

Acts.7.5

but God gave him nothing, not so much as a foothold. He did promise to give the country to him and his son later on, even though Abraham had no son at the time.

Acts.7.5

He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child.

Acts.7.5

And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.

Acts.7.5

But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole country would belong to Abraham and his descendants--though he had no children yet.

Acts.7.6

God let him know that his offspring would move to an alien country where they would be enslaved and brutalized for four hundred years.

Acts.7.6

God spoke to him in this way: 'Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.

Acts.7.6

But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years.

Acts.7.6

But God also told him that his descendants would live in a foreign country where they would be mistreated as slaves for four hundred years.

Acts.7.7

"But,' God said, "I will step in and take care of those slaveholders and bring my people out so they can worship me in this place.'

Acts.7.7

But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, 'and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.'

Acts.7.7

"And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,' said God, "and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.'

Acts.7.7

'But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,' God told him, 'and in the end they will come out and worship me in this place.'

Acts.7.8

"Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham's flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve "fathers,' each faithfully passing on the covenant sign.

Acts.7.8

Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

Acts.7.8

Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

Acts.7.8

God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. And so Isaac, Abraham's son, was circumcised when he was eight days old. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob was the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Jewish nation.

Acts.7.9

"But then those "fathers,' burning up with jealousy, sent Joseph off to Egypt as a slave. God was right there with him, though--

Acts.7.9

"Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts.7.9

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him

Acts.7.9

"These sons of Jacob were very jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him

Acts.7.10

he not only rescued him from all his troubles but brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the whole country, including his own personal affairs.

Acts.7.10

and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

Acts.7.10

and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

Acts.7.10

and delivered him from his anguish. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of all the affairs of the palace.

Acts.7.11

"Later a famine descended on that entire region, stretching from Egypt to Canaan, bringing terrific hardship. Our hungry fathers looked high and low for food, but the cupboard was bare.

Acts.7.11

"Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food.

Acts.7.11

Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance.

Acts.7.11

"But a famine came upon Egypt and Canaan. There was great misery for our ancestors, as they ran out of food.

Acts.7.12

Jacob heard there was food in Egypt and sent our fathers to scout it out.

Acts.7.12

When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.

Acts.7.12

But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

Acts.7.12

Jacob heard that there was still grain in Egypt, so he sent his sons to buy some.

Acts.7.13

Having confirmed the report, they went back to Egypt a second time to get food. On that visit, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers and introduced the Jacob family to Pharaoh.

Acts.7.13

On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family.

Acts.7.13

And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to the Pharaoh.

Acts.7.13

The second time they went, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and they were introduced to Pharaoh.

Acts.7.14

Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and everyone else in the family, seventy-five in all.

Acts.7.14

After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.

Acts.7.14

Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people.

Acts.7.14

Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and all his relatives to come to Egypt, seventy-five persons in all.

Acts.7.15

That's how the Jacob family got to Egypt. "Jacob died, and our fathers after him.

Acts.7.15

Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.

Acts.7.15

So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers.

Acts.7.15

So Jacob went to Egypt. He died there, as did all his sons.

Acts.7.16

They were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb for which Abraham paid a good price to the sons of Hamor.

Acts.7.16

Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

Acts.7.16

And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

Acts.7.16

All of them were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

Acts.7.17

"When the four hundred years were nearly up, the time God promised Abraham for deliverance, the population of our people in Egypt had become very large.

Acts.7.17

"As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

Acts.7.17

"But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt

Acts.7.17

"As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

Acts.7.18

And there was now a king over Egypt who had never heard of Joseph.

Acts.7.18

Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt.

Acts.7.18

till another king arose who did not know Joseph.

Acts.7.18

But then a new king came to the throne of Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.

Acts.7.19

He exploited our race mercilessly. He went so far as forcing us to abandon our newborn infants, exposing them to the elements to die a cruel death.

Acts.7.19

He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

Acts.7.19

This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live.

Acts.7.19

This king plotted against our people and forced parents to abandon their newborn babies so they would die.