Acts of the Apostles 6

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint againstthe Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked.	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 So the Twelve cal ed a ful meeting of the disciples and addressed them, 'It would not be right for us toneglect the word of God so as to give out food;	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 you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, fil ed with the Spiritand with wisdom, to whom we can hand over this duty.	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 We ourselves wil continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.'	4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man ful of faith and of the HolySpirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert toJudaism.	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 They presented these to the apostles, and after prayer they laid their hands on them.	6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased,and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.	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 Stephen was fil ed with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people.	8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who weremembers of the synagogue cal ed the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia.	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 They found they could not stand up against him because of his wisdom, and the Spirit that promptedwhat he said.	10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11 So they procured some men to say, 'We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses andagainst God.'	11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12 Having turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise,and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin.	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 There they put up false witnesses to say, 'This man is always making speeches against this Holy Placeand the Law.	13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14 We have heard him say that Jesus, this Nazarene, is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditionsthat Moses handed down to us.'	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 The members of the Sanhedrin al looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like theface of an angel.	15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.