Acts of the Apostles 6

¹ At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

² So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.

³ Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task,

⁴ whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

⁵ The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

⁶ They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.

⁷ The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

⁸ Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

⁹ Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen,

¹⁰ but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

¹¹ Then they instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God."

¹² They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

¹³ They presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law.

¹⁴ For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us."

¹⁵ All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.