Acts 6 - Expanded Bible (EXB)

Seven Leaders Are Chosen

6 The number of ·followers [disciples] was ·growing [multiplying]. But during ·this same time [those days], the ·Greek-speaking followers [L Hellenists; C Jewish Christians who spoke primarily Greek and had returned to Israel after living abroad] ·had an argument with [began grumbling/complaining against] the ·other followers [L Hebrews; C Aramaic 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 [L disciples] together and said, “It is not right for us to ·stop our work of teaching God’s word [L leave/abandon the word of God] in order to serve tables. 3 So, ·brothers and sisters [or brothers; C uncertain 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; L need]. 4 Then we [apostles] can ·continue [devote ourselves] to pray and to ·teach [L the 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 [L full of] faith and full of the Holy Spirit), Philip [C not the apostle of the same name], Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a man from Antioch [C a major city in Syria] who ·had become a follower of the Jewish religion [L was a prosylete; C a Gentile convert to Judaism]. 6 Then they ·put [presented] these men before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands [C a 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 [L become obedient to the faith].

Stephen Is Accused

8 Stephen was ·richly blessed by God who gave him the power [L full 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 [C Jews who were freed slaves] (as it was called), which included people from Cyrene, Alexandria [C both in North Africa], Cilicia, and Asia [C both 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 [L they 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 [L speaking 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 [L the Sanhedrin; 4:15]. 13 They brought in some ·people to tell lies about Stephen [L false witnesses], saying, “This man is always speaking against this holy place [C the 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 [C for a similar charge leveled against Jesus see Matt. 26:61; Mark 14:58].” 15 All the people [who sat] in the ·meeting [L Sanhedrin; 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.

You Might Also Like:

Acts 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration, 2 and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, `It is not pleasing that we, having left the word ...
Read More

Acts 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 But in those days, when the number of disciples increased, the Greeks grumbled against the Hebrews [grutching of Greeks was made against Hebrews], for that their widows were despised in every day's ministering. 2 And the twelve called together the multitude of disciples, and said, It is not right...
Read More

Acts 6 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

6 At that time more and more people joined the disciples. Then there was trouble about a certain matter. The Jews who spoke the Greek language complained against the other Jews. They said that each day when the food was being divided, their women whose husbands were dead did not get their part. 2 Th...
Read More

Acts 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists[a] against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the ...
Read More

Acts 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

These emissaries of Jesus inspire us with their passion to serve Jesus and advance the gospel in the face of torture and abuse. After a night in prison and a public flogging, they moved forward with smiles on their faces. Believers in the Western church often enjoy the benefits of social and politic...
Read More

Acts 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Appointed for Service6 Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, grumbling arose[a] among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily support. 2 So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right fo...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists[a] murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up ...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up pre...
Read More

Acts 6 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

6 And in those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose murmuring of the Hellenists toward the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministry. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said, “It is not acceptable that we should leave...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Problems of Family Living6 Around that time, as the number of disciples increased, the ‘Hellenists’ raised a dispute with the ‘Hebrews’ because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called the whole crowd of disciples together.‘Listen,’ they said. ‘It...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.(A)2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused. 6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Seven Men Chosen to Serve6 But as the believers[a] rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called ...
Read More

Acts 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Church Leaders Are Chosen6 In those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was give...
Read More

Acts 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Seven Chosen to Serve6 Now in those days, (A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (B)Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected (C)in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (...
Read More