Acts 6

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,^a the Hellenistic Jews^b among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows^c were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.^d So the Twelve gathered all the disciples^e together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God^f in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters,^g choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit^h and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to themⁱ and will give our attention to prayer^j and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,^k a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;^l also Philip,^m Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented them to the apostles, who prayedⁿ and laid their hands on them.^o

So the word of God spread.^p The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,^q and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs^a among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene^b and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia^c and Asia^d—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.^e

Then they secretly^f persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”^g

So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.^h They produced false witnesses,ⁱ who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place^j and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place^k and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”^l

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