Acts

Chapter 6

  1. 1

    Now in those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, there arose a murmuring among the Hellenists against the Hebrews that their widows were being neglected in the daily ministration.

  2. 2

    So the Twelve called together the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should forsake the word of God and serve at tables.

  3. 3

    Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, that we may put them in charge of this work.

  4. 4

    But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

  5. 5

    And the plan met the approval of the whole 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 from Antioch.

  6. 6

    These they set before the apostles, and after they had prayed they laid their hands upon them.

  7. 7

    And the word of the Lord continued to spread, and the number of the disciples increased rapidly in Jerusalem; a large number also of the priests accepted the faith. Stephen's Arrest

  8. 8

    Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.

  9. 9

    But there arose some from the synagogue which is called that of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of those from Cilicia and the province of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

  10. 10

    And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit who spoke.

  11. 11

    Then they bribed men to say they had heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.

  12. 12

    And they stirred up the people and the elders and the Scribes, and, running together, they seized him and brought him to the Sanhedrin.

  13. 13

    And they brought forward false witnesses to say, "This man never ceases speaking words against the Holy Place and the Law;

  14. 14

    for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the traditions which Moses handed down to us."

  15. 15

    Then all who sat in the Sanhedrin, gazing upon him, saw his face as though it were the face of an angel.