1 And in those days, the disciples having multiplied, a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews occurred, because their widows were overlooked in the daily serving.
2 And the Twelve called near the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not pleasing to us, leaving the Word of God, to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brothers, look out among you seven [men] being witnessed to, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this duty.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
5 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 Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch.
6 They set these before the apostles. And having prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 And the word of God was increasing. And the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was multiplying exceedingly; even a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and from Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 And they induced men [to be] saying, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes. And coming on, they seized him and brought him to the sanhedrin.
13 And they set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law.
14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.
15 And looking intently at him. all those sitting in the sanhedrin saw his face as if [it were the] face of an angel.