1 Por aquellos días, al multiplicarse los discípulos, hubo quejas de los helenistas contra los hebreos, porque sus viudas eran desatendidas en la asistencia cotidiana. | 1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. |
2 Los Doce convocaron la asamblea de los discípulos y dijeron: «No parece bien que nosotros abandonemos la Palabra de Dios por servir a las mesas. | 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. |
3 Por tanto, hermanos, buscad de entre vosotros a siete hombres, de buena fama, llenos de Espíritu y de sabiduría, y los pondremos al frente de este cargo; | 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. |
4 mientras que nosotros nos dedicaremos a la oración y al ministerio de la Palabra». | 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. |
5 Pareció bien la propuesta a toda la asamblea y escogieron a Esteban, hombre lleno de fe y de Espíritu Santo, a Felipe, a Prócoro, a Nicanor, a Timón, a Pármenas y a Nicolás, prosélito de Antioquía; | 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: |
6 los presentaron a los apóstoles y, habiendo hecho oración, les impusieron las manos. | 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. |
7 La Palabra de Dios iba creciendo; en Jerusalén se multiplicó considerablemente el número de los discípulos, y multitud de sacerdotes iban aceptando la fe. | 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. |
8 Esteban, lleno de gracia y de poder, realizaba entre el pueblo grandes prodigios y señales. | 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. |
9 Se levantaron unos de la sinagoga llamada de los Libertos, cirenenses y alejandrinos, y otros de Cilicia y Asia, y se pusieron a disputar con Esteban; | 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. |
10 pero no podían resistir a la sabiduría y al Espíritu con que hablaba. | 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. |
11 Entonces sobornaron a unos hombres para que dijeran: «Nosotros hemos oído a éste pronunciar palabras blasfemas contra Moisés y contra Dios». | 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. |
12 De esta forma amotinaron al pueblo, a los ancianos y escribas; vinieron de improviso, le prendieron y le condujeron al Sanedrín. | 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, |
13 Presentaron entonces testigos falsos que declararon: «Este hombre no para de hablar en contra del Lugar Santo y de la Ley; | 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: |
14 pues le hemos oído decir que Jesús, ese Nazoreo, destruiría este Lugar y cambiaría las costumbres que Moisés nos ha transmitido». | 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. |
15 Fijando en él la mirada todos los que estaban sentados en el Sanedrín, vieron su rostro como el rostro de un ángel. | 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. |