Acts 6:1–8

Seven Chosen to Serve

6Now in these days ^kwhen the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists¹ arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^lthe daily distribution. ²And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ^3mTherefore, brothers,² pick out from among you seven men ⁿof good repute, ^ofull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴But ^pwe will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^qa man full of faith and ^rof the Holy Spirit, and ^sPhilip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^ta proselyte of Antioch. ⁶These they set before the apostles, and ^uthey prayed and ^vlaid their hands on them.

⁷And ^wthe word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^xbecame obedient to ^ythe faith.

Stephen Is Seized

⁸And Stephen, full of grace and ^zpower, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.