Acts 6

1In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.

2So the Twelve called together the whole group of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to abandon the word of God to serve tables.”

3But brothers, select from among yourselves seven men who are well attested, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this duty.

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

5And the proposal pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

6These they set before the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

7And the word of God kept increasing, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem kept multiplying greatly, and a large crowd of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

8Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9But some of those from the synagogue called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began arguing with Stephen.

10And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he was speaking.

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

12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin,

13They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking against this holy place and the law,”

14For we heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us.

15And all who were sitting in the council, fixing their eyes on him, saw his face like the face of an angel.