Acts 6 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Around this time, as the number of followers kept growing, the Greek-speaking Jewish believers started complaining against the Hebrew-speaking ones. They said their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

So the twelve called all the followers together and said, "It wouldn't be right for us to neglect getting God's message out in order to manage food distribution.

So, brothers and sisters, pick out seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Breath of God and wisdom. We'll put them in charge of this responsibility.

That way, we can focus on prayer and on getting the message out."

The whole group liked this idea. So they chose Stephen, a man overflowing with faith and the Breath of God, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, who had converted to Judaism.

They brought these men to the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.

And God's message kept spreading. The number of followers in Jerusalem grew dramatically, and even a large number of Jewish priests started embracing the faith.

Now Stephen, overflowing with God's generous favor and power, was doing incredible things and miraculous signs among the people.

But some people from what was called the Synagogue of the Freed Slaves — Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia — stood up and started arguing with Stephen.

But they couldn't hold their own against the wisdom and the Breath that Stephen spoke with.

So they secretly got some men to claim, "We heard him say things against Moses and against God."

This stirred up the people, the elders, and the legal experts. They seized Stephen and dragged him before the ruling council.

They brought in false witnesses who said, "This man never stops talking against this set-apart place and against the Law.

We've heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

Everyone sitting in the council stared at Stephen, and they saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.