1 N ow at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

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

3 T herefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4 B ut we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 T he statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6 A nd these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

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

8 A nd Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 B ut some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

10 B ut they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

11 T hen they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

12 A nd they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.

13 T hey put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;

14 f or we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”

15 A nd fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.