6
1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint by the Grecian Jews began against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2 Then the twelve called to them the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to give up the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore brothers, choose men of good reputation from among yourselves, seven men full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this task.
4 But we will always continue in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5 Their statement was pleasing to the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.
6 They brought these men before the apostles, and they prayed and placed their hands upon them.
7 So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But there arose some people who belonged to the synagogue that is called Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and from Asia. They were debating with Stephen.
10 But they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.
11 Then they bribed men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 They also stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they approached Stephen, seizing him, and brought him before the council.
13 They brought false witnesses, saying, “This man does not stop speaking words against this holy place and the law.
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”
15 Everyone who was sitting in the council looked intently at him, seeing his face as the face of an angel.
The Acts of the Apostles