1 ¶ In those days, when the number of the disciples was increasing, a complaint arose on the part of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

2 So the twelve called all the disciples together, and said, It would not make sense for us to neglect the word of God, to serve tables.

3 Therefore, brethren, select seven men of good reputation from among you, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

4 But we will continue to devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

5 And that suggestion pleased the entire assembly: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they brought before the apostles: and after they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God spread; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly; and a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith.

8 ¶ And Stephen, full of faith and power, was performing great wonders and miracles among the people.

9 However some who belonged to the synagogue, that is called the synagogue of the Freemen, Jews from Cyrene, and Alexandria, as well as those from Cilicia and Asia, began to argue with Stephen.

10 But they were not able to resist his wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.

11 Then they secretly induced men to say, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.

12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and seized him, and dragged him away, and brought him to the Sanhedrin,

13 And produced false witnesses, who said, This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:

14 For we have heard him say, that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and change the customs that Moses delivered to us.

15 And all who sat in the council, looking intently at him, saw that his face was like the face of an angel.