Choosing of the Seven

6 Now ^[a]at this time while the ^(A)disciples were ^(B)increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the ^[b](C)Hellenistic Jews against the native ^(D)Hebrews, because their ^(E)widows were being overlooked in ^(F)the daily serving of food. ² So the twelve summoned the ^[c]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Therefore, ^(G)brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^(H)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴ But we will ^(I)devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^[d]ministry of the word.” ⁵ The statement found approval with the whole ^[e]congregation; and they chose ^(J)Stephen, a man ^(K)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^(L)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and ^[f]Nicolas, a ^[g](M)proselyte from ^(N)Antioch. ⁶ And these they brought before the apostles; and after ^(O)praying, they ^(P)laid their hands on them.

^7 (Q)The word of God kept on spreading; and ^(R)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^(S)the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great ^(T)wonders and ^[h]signs among the people. ⁹ But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^(U)Cyrenians and ^(V)Alexandrians, and some from ^(W)Cilicia and ^[i](X)Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 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, the elders and the scribes, and they ^(Y)came up to him and dragged him away and brought him ^[j]before ^(Z)the ^[k]Council. ¹³ They put forward ^(AA)false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this ^(AB)holy place and the Law; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that ^(AC)this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter ^(AD)the customs which Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the ^[l](AE)Council saw his face like the face of an angel.