The Choosing of the Seven

6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,d the Hellenistic Jewsa e among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widowsf were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.g 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciplesh together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of Godi in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters,j choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spiritk and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to theml 4 and will give our attention to prayerm and the ministry of the word.”

5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,n a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;o also Philip,p Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayedq and laid their hands on them.r

7 So the word of God spread.s The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,t and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signsu among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrenev and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Ciliciaw and Asiax—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.y

11 Then they secretlyz persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”a

12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.b 13 They produced false witnesses,c who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy placed and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this placee and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”f

15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedring looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.