[1] And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministry, [2] and the Twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, “It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, minister at tables; [3] look out, therefore, brothers, seven men of you who are testified well of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity, [4] and we to prayer, and to the ministry of the word, will give ourselves continually.” [5] And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch, [6] whom they set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid [their] hands on them. [7] And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude of the priests were also obedient to the faith. [8] And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people, [9] and there arose certain of those of the synagogue, the [one] called Libertines (and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia), disputing with Stephen, [10] and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking; [11] then they suborned men, saying, “We have heard him speaking slanderous sayings in regard to Moses and God.” [12] They also stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come on [him], they caught him, and brought [him] to the Sanhedrin; [13] they also set up false witnesses, saying, “This one does not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy place and the Law, [14] for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarean will overthrow this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us”; [15] and gazing at him, all those sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.
