Por aquellos¹ días, al multiplicarse el número^a de los discípulos^b, surgió una queja de parte de los judíos helenistas^2c en contra de los judíos^3d nativos, porque sus viudas^e eran desatendidas en la distribución diaria de los alimentos^f. 2 Entonces los doce convocaron a la congregación¹ de los discípulos, y dijeron: No es conveniente que nosotros descuidemos la palabra de Dios para servir mesas. 3 Por tanto, hermanos^a, escoged de entre vosotros siete hombres de buena reputación, llenos del Espíritu Santo^b y de sabiduría, a quienes podamos encargar esta tarea. 4 Y nosotros nos entregaremos a la oración^a y al ministerio¹ de la palabra. 5 Lo propuesto tuvo la aprobación de toda la congregación¹, y escogieron a Esteban^a, un hombre lleno de fe y del Espíritu Santo^b, y a Felipe^c, a Prócoro, a Nicanor, a Timón, a Parmenas y a Nicolás, un prosélito^2d de Antioquía^e; 6 a los cuales presentaron ante los apóstoles, y después de orar^a, pusieron sus manos sobre ellos^b.

7 Y la palabra de Dios crecía^a, y el número de los discípulos se multiplicaba^b en gran manera en Jerusalén, y muchos de¹ los sacerdotes obedecían a la fe^c.

8 Y Esteban, lleno de gracia y de poder, hacía grandes prodigios y señales^1a entre el pueblo. 9 Pero se levantaron algunos de la sinagoga llamada de los Libertos, incluyendo tanto cireneos^a como alejandrinos^b, y algunos de Cilicia^c y de Asia^1d, y discutían con Esteban. 10 Pero no podían resistir a la sabiduría y al Espíritu con que hablaba. 11 Entonces, en secreto persuadieron a algunos hombres para que dijeran¹: Le hemos oído hablar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y contra Dios. 12 Y alborotaron al pueblo, a los ancianos y a los escribas, y cayendo sobre él^a, lo arrebataron y lo trajeron en presencia¹ del concilio^2b. 13 Y presentaron testigos falsos^a que dijeron: Este hombre continuamente habla¹ en contra de este lugar santo y de la ley^b; 14 porque le hemos oído decir que este nazareno, Jesús, destruirá este lugar^a, y cambiará las tradiciones que Moisés nos legó^b. 15 Y al fijar la mirada en él, todos los que estaban sentados en el concilio^1a vieron su rostro como el rostro de un ángel.

Now about this time, when the number of ^adisciples was ^bincreasing, a complaint was made by the ^1cHellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the ²native ^dHebrews, because their ^ewidows were being overlooked in ^fthe daily serving of food. 2 So the ¹Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect teaching the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food. 3 Therefore, ^abrothers, choose from among you seven men with good reputations men of godly character and moral integrity, ^bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will continue to ^adevote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 The suggestion pleased the whole congregation; and they selected ^1aStephen, a man ^bfull of faith in Christ Jesus, and filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, and ^cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (Nikolaos) , a ^dproselyte (Gentile convert) from ^eAntioch. 6 They brought these men before the apostles; and after ^apraying, they ^blaid their hands on them to dedicate and commission them for this service.

7 And ^athe message of God kept on growing and spreading, and ^bthe number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem; and a large number of the priests were becoming obedient to ^cthe faith accepting Jesus as Messiah and acknowledging Him as the Source of eternal salvation.

8 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great ^awonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people. 9 However, some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (freed Jewish slaves) , both ^aCyrenians and ^bAlexandrians, and some from ^cCilicia and the province of ^dAsia, rose up and questioned and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were not able to successfully withstand and cope with the wisdom and the intelligence and the power and inspiration of the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then to attack him another way they secretly instructed men to say, “We have heard this man Stephen speak blasphemous (slanderous, sacrilegious, abusive) words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they provoked and incited the people, as well as the elders and the scribes, and they ^acame up to Stephen and seized him and brought him before ^bthe Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) . 13 They presented ^afalse witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this ^bholy place and the Law of Moses; 14 for we have heard him say that ^athis Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and will change the ^btraditions and customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 Then all those who were sitting in the ^aCouncil, stared intently at him, and they saw that Stephen’s face was like the face of an angel.

Now ¹at this time while the ^adisciples were ^bincreasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the ^2cHellenistic Jews against the native ^dHebrews, because their ^ewidows were being overlooked in ^fthe daily serving of food. 2 So the twelve summoned the ¹congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3 Therefore, ^abrethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4 But we will ^adevote ourselves to prayer and to the ¹ministry of the word.” 5 The statement found approval with the whole ¹congregation; and they chose ^aStephen, a man ^bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and ²Nicolas, a ^3dproselyte from ^eAntioch. 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after ^apraying, they ^blaid their hands on them.

7 ^aThe word of God kept on spreading; and ^bthe number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^cthe faith.

8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great ^awonders and ¹signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^aCyrenians and ^bAlexandrians, and some from ^cCilicia and ^1dAsia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they ^acame up to him and dragged him away and brought him ¹before ^bthe ²Council. 13 They put forward ^afalse witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this ^bholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that ^athis Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter ^bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the ^1aCouncil saw his face like the face of an angel.