6:1 In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews, asserting that their own widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
6:2 And so the Twelve called together the entire community of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.
6:3 Therefore, brethren, we direct you to select from among you seven men of good reputation, men filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we may assign this task.
6:4 We will then be able to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
6:5 The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism.
6:6 They then presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid hands on them.
6:7 The word of God continued to spread ever more widely. The number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
6:8 Stephen, a man filled with grace and power, began to work great wonders and signs among the people.
6:9 Then certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, people from Cyrene and Alexandria, as well as others from Cilicia and Asia, came forward to debate with Stephen.
6:10 However, they were unable to refute him because of his wisdom and the Spirit who inspired his speech.
6:11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard this Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
6:12 After this, stirring up the people as well as the elders and the scribes, they seized Stephen, placed him under arrest, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
6:13 Then they called forward false witnesses who claimed, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law.
6:14 For we have heard him assert that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the traditions that Moses handed down to us.”
6:15 All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared like the face of an angel.
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