Acts of Apostles, 6

¹ Now in those days when the disciples were increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began complaining against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

² So the Twelve called the multitude of the disciples together and said: “It is not right^*1 for us to leave the word of God to distribute food to tables.

³ So, brothers, select for yourselves seven reputable men^*1 from among you, full of spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them over this necessary matter;

⁴ but we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵ What they said was pleasing to the whole multitude, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, as well as Philip, Prochʹo·rus, Ni·caʹnor, Tiʹmon, Parʹme·nas, and Nic·o·laʹus, a proselyte of Antioch.

⁶ They brought them to the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ Consequently, the word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying very much in Jerusalem; and a large crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith.

⁸ Now Stephen, full of divine favor and power, was performing great wonders^*1 and signs among the people.

⁹ But some men of the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen came forward, along with some Cy·reʹni·ans and Alexandrians, and some from Ci·liʹcia and Asia, to dispute with Stephen.

¹⁰ But they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking.

¹¹ Then they secretly persuaded men to say: “We have heard him speaking blasphemous things against Moses and God.”

¹² And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him suddenly, they forcibly seized him and led him to the Sanʹhe·drin.

¹³ And they brought forward false witnesses, who said: “This man does not stop speaking things against this holy place and against the Law.

¹⁴ For instance, we have heard him say that this Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ will throw down this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

¹⁵ And as all those sitting in the Sanʹhe·drin stared at him, they saw that his face was like an angel’s face.