Acts of the Apostles 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

1In those days, as the disciples were growing in number, the Greek-speaking Jews complained against the Hebrews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. 2So the Twelve called the whole body of disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, look among yourselves for seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this task, 4while we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5The proposal pleased the whole assembly, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. 6They presented them to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7The word of God kept spreading; the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew enormously, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

8Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some men stood up — members of the so-called Synagogue of the Freedmen, along with Cyrenians and Alexandrians and others from Cilicia and Asia — and began to argue with Stephen. 10They could not stand up to the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. 11So they secretly put men up to saying, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12They stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes; they came upon him, seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14We have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will tear down this place and change the customs Moses handed on to us.” 15Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin looked hard at him, and they saw his face like the face of an angel.