Acts of the Apostles 6

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain 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 And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: “It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also.
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 Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work.
4 We ourselves wil continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.'	4 Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in 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 plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch.
6 They presented these to the apostles, and after prayer they laid their hands on them.	6 These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed 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 the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group 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 Then Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs 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 But certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were 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 But they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
11 So they procured some men to say, 'We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses andagainst God.'	11 Then they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy 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 thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized 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 they set up false witnesses, who said: “This man does not cease to speak words against the 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 saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the traditions, which Moses handed down to 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 those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel.