Choosing of the Seven

1 Now 1at this time while the adisciples were bincreasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the 2cHellenistic Jews against the native dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food.

2 So the twelve summoned the 1congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

3 “Therefore, abrethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4 “But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the 1ministry of the word.”

5 The statement found approval with the whole 1congregation; and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and 2Nicolas, a 3dproselyte from eAntioch.

6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.

7 aThe word of God kept on spreading; and bthe number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.