'Now2in1these5days4when6the7disciples8were increasing in number,6a complaint10by the11Hellenists12arose9against13the14Hebrews15because16their25widows24were being neglected17in18the19daily22distribution.20 And2the3twelve4summoned1the5full number6of the7disciples8andsaid,9“It is12not10right11thatwe13should give up14preachingthe15word16of God18to serve19tables.20 Therefore,2brothers,3pick out1from among5you6seven8men4of good repute,7full9of the Spirit10and11of wisdom,12whom13we will appoint14to15this18duty.17 But2we1will devote ourselves10to prayer4and5to the6ministry7of the8word.”9 And1what they said34pleased2the7whole6gathering,8and9they chose10Stephen,11a man12full13of faith14and15of the16Holy17Spirit,16and18Philip,19and20Prochorus,21and22Nicanor,23and24Timon,25and26Parmenas,27and28Nicolaus,29a proselyte30ofAntioch.31 These1they set2before3the4apostles,5and6they prayed7and6laid8[their]10hands11on8them.9 And1the2word3of God5continued to increase,6and7the9number10of the11disciples12multiplied8greatly15in13Jerusalem,14and17a great16many18of the19priests20became obedient21to the22faith.23 And2Stephen,1full3of grace4and5power,6was doing7great11wonders8and9signs10among12the13people.14 Then2some3of those4[who belonged to]5the6synagogue7of the Freedmen10(asit8was called),9and11of the Cyrenians,12and13of the Alexandrians,14and15of those16from17Cilicia18and19Asia,20rose up1anddisputed with21Stephen.23 But1they could3not2withstand4the5wisdom6and7the8Spirit9with which10he was speaking.11 Then1they secretly instigated2men3who said,4“We have heard6him7speak8blasphemous10words9against11Moses12and13God.”15 And2they stirred up1the3people4and5the6elders7and8the9scribes,10and11they came upon12him andseized13him14and15brought16himbefore17the18council,19 and2they set up1false4witnesses3who said,5“This18man7never9ceases10to speak11words12against13this8holy17place15and19the20law,21 for2we have heard1him3say4that5this9Jesus6ofNazareth8will destroy10this13place12and14will change15the16customs17that18Moses21delivered19to us.”20 And1gazing2at3him,4all5who sat7in8the9council10saw11thathis14face13waslike15the face16of an angel.17