Actuum Apostolorum 6

1 In diebus illis, crescente numero discipulorum, factum est murmur Graecorum adversus Hebraeos, eo quod despicerentur in ministerio quotidiano viduae eorum.

In those days, as the disciples increased in number, a complaint arose against the Hebrews on the part of the Hellenists that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

2 Convocantes autem duodecim multitudinem discipulorum dixerunt: Non est aequum nos derelinquere verbum Dei, et ministrare mensis.

So the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said, “It is not proper for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.

3 Considerate ergo fratres, viros ex vobis boni testimonii septem, plenos Spiritu sancto, et sapientia, quos constituamus super hoc opus.

Therefore, brothers, look for seven men among you who have a good reputation and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint for this need.

4 Nos vero orationi, et ministerio verbi instantes erimus.

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 Et placuit sermo coram omni multitudine. Et elegerunt Stephanum, virum plenum fide, et Spiritu sancto, et Philippum, et Prochorum, et Nicanorem, et Timonem, et Parmenam, et Nicolaum advenam Antiochenum.

This proposal pleased the whole multitude, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, an Antiochean convert to Judaism.

6 Hos statuerunt ante conspectum Apostolorum: et orantes imposuerunt eis manus.

They set these men before the apostles, who then prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 Et verbum Domini crescebat, et multiplicabatur numerus discipulorum in Ierusalem valde: multa etiam turba sacerdotum obediebat fidei.

So the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

8 Stephanus autem plenus gratia, et fortitudine faciebat prodigia, et signa magna in populo.

Now Stephen, a man full of faith and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga, quae appellatur Libertinorum, et Cyrenensium, et Alexandrinorum, et eorum qui erant a Cilicia, et Asia, disputantes cum Stephano:

But some men from the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), along with some of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some men from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and began to argue with Stephen.

10 et non poterant resistere sapientiae, et Spiritui, qui loquebatur.

But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

11 Tunc summiserunt viros, qui dicerent se audivisse eum dicentem verba blasphemiae in Moysen, et in Deum.

Then they induced some men to say, “We heard Stephen speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

12 Commoverunt itaque plebem, et seniores, et Scribas: et concurrentes rapuerunt eum, et adduxerunt in concilium,

They also stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. So they came up to Stephen, seized him, and brought him to the Sanhedrin.

13 et statuerunt falsos testes, qui dicerent: Homo iste non cessat loqui verba adversus locum sanctum, et legem.

Then they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and against the law.

14 audivimus enim eum dicentem: quoniam Iesus Nazarenus hic, destruet locum istum, et mutabit traditiones, quas tradidit nobis Moyses.

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

15 Et intuentes eum omnes, qui sedebant in concilio, viderunt faciem eius tanquam faciem Angeli.

And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen intently and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.