Acts 6

Choosing of the Seven

1Now 1at this time while the 2disciples were 3increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the 45Hellenistic Jews against the native 6Hebrews, because their 7widows were being overlooked in 8the daily serving of food. 2So the twelve summoned the 9congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3Therefore, 10brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, 11full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4But we will 12devote ourselves to prayer and to the 13ministry of the word.” 5The statement found approval with the whole 14congregation; and they chose 15Stephen, a man 16full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and 17Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and 18Nicolas, a 1920proselyte from 21Antioch. 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after 22praying, they 23laid their hands on them.

724The word of God kept on spreading; and 25the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to 26the faith.

8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great 27wonders and 28signs among the people. 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both 29Cyrenians and 30Alexandrians, and some from 31Cilicia and 3233Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they 34came up to him and dragged him away and brought him 35before 36the 37Council. 13They put forward 38false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this 39holy place and the Law; 14for we have heard him say that 40this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter 41the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the 4243Council saw his face like the face of an angel.