Acts 6 Now in these days, during a progressive multiplying (= increasing the number) of the disciples (students; learners; apprentices), a discontented muttering of grumbling and complaints occurred (was birthed) from the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews, and/or, folks of the Hellenistic culture) aimed toward the Hebrews (the Hebrew-speaking folks, and/or folks living in accord with the Jewish culture) because their widows kept on being overlooked (= neglected and disregarded) in the daily attending service of dispensing hospitality and serving meals.

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now in these days, during a progressive multiplying (= increasing the number) of the disciples (students; learners; apprentices), a discontented muttering of grumbling and complaints occurred (was birthed) from the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews, and/or, folks of the Hellenistic culture) aimed toward the Hebrews (the Hebrew-speaking folks, and/or folks living in accord with the Jewish culture) because their widows kept on being overlooked (= neglected and disregarded) in the daily attending service of dispensing hospitality and serving meals. ² So the twelve, after summoning the full multitude of the disciples (students) to themselves, said to them, "It is not acceptable (satisfactory; approvable) [for] us to be constantly serving [food] at tables (also: = supervising the distribution of supplies), thus neglecting (or: completely abandoning; leaving down) the Word of God (or: the Word which is God; the Word coming from God)! ³ "Thus, brothers (= fellow believers and member of the community), look about carefully upon and inspect so as to select from your [ranks] seven adult men [who are] constantly being attested and certified by witnesses [to be] full of Breath-effect (or: [the] Spirit; Attitude) and of wisdom, whom we will proceed situating (setting or placing down) upon this need. ⁴ "Yet we ourselves will continue enduring strongly focused on and loyally persist in the thought, speaking and action aimed at having goodness, ease and well-being (or: with prayer) and the attending service of the Word (and: the dispensing pertaining to the Idea and from the Message which originates in the Logos)." ⁵ And the idea (word; thought) brought satisfaction in the eyes (in the sight; = in the judgment and view) of all the full multitude, and so they selected (picked out; chose) Stephen, an adult man full of trust (and: faith; or: trustworthiness) and set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; or: a consecrated attitude), as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch, ⁶ whom they made stand before the sent-forth folks. Then, while envisioning goodness and speaking well-being (or: praying), they placed [their] hands on them. ⁷ And so the Word of God (or: God's thought, idea, message and Logos) kept on progressively growing and increasing (also: = God's Reason was spreading out like a growing Vine), and thus the number of disciples (students; learners; apprentices) continued tremendously multiplying (= increasing in number) within Jerusalem. Furthermore, a vast throng of the priests [note: these would have been Sadducees] kept on submissively listening to and hearing (thus: paying attention to and obeying) the Faith [note: noun with the article, thus this would signify trust and belief in the resurrected Jesus as the Christ – the message of faith that was then being proclaimed]. ⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power (and: favor and ability), repeatedly performed great miracles and signs among the people. ⁹ Yet certain men rose up – from the [members] of the synagogue being normally termed "Freedmen" (or: Libertines; Jews who had been enslaved in the Syrian wars but were later freed), also [composed] of Cyrenians, Alexandrians and people from Cilicia, as well as [the province] of Asia – repeatedly arguing and debating (or: inquiring and discussing together) with Stephen, ¹⁰ and yet they were not continuing strong [enough] to withstand (= hold their own position against) the wisdom and the spirit in which (or: with which; or: the Breath-effect or Spirit by which) he continued speaking. ¹¹ At that point they underhandedly and secretly induced men to be saying, one after another, "We have heard him repeatedly speaking blasphemous (or: slanderous; defaming; harmful; abusive; light-hindering; villainous) gush-effects (or: declarations) unto Moses and God (or: directed into [the Law with its religion and culture, which is represented by] Moses, and [into] God)." ¹² And so they stirred up (agitated; moved and shook together like an earthquake) the people – as well as the elders and the scholars (scribes; theologians of the Law) – and so, having been standing near upon [him], they, as a group, suddenly took him by force (gripped, seized and snatched him) then led [him] unto the Sanhedrin (High Council). ¹³ Here they set up (or: put on the stand) false witnesses, one after another saying, "This man is not ceasing from continually speaking gush-effects (or: declarations) down against this set-apart (or: holy; sacred) place and the Law. ¹⁴ "For instance, we have heard him repeatedly saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy (demolish; dismantle) this place and he will change the customs which Moses handed down to (and: for) us." ¹⁵ Then, staring intently at him (or: into [Stephen]), all the men presently sitting in the Sanhedrin (High Council) saw his face (and: countenance) as if [it were the] face of an "agent" (or: countenance and presence of [God's] messenger).