Now in those days, when the disciples were multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews that their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration.
And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples unto [them] said, It is not seemly that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables.
Look out then, brethren, from among you seven men of good report full of [the] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this business;
but we for our part will give ourselves closely to prayer and the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased all the multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch,
whom they set before the apostles; and having prayed they laid their hands on them.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied exceedingly; and a great crowd of the priests were obedient to the faith.
And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.
And there arose certain of those that were of the synagogue called [that] of the freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Then they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes; and coming upon [him] they seized and brought him into the council,
and set false witnesses, saying, This man ceaseth not speaking words against the holy place and the law;
for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.
And all that sat in the council, gazing fixedly on him, saw his face as it were an angel’s face.