Chapter 6

¹But in those days, the disciples multiplying in number, there arose a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were overlooked in the daily ministration. ²And the twelve, having called the multitude of the disciples to [them], said, It is not right that we, leaving the word of God, should serve tables. ³Look out therefore, brethren, from among yourselves seven men, well reported of, full of [the] [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we will establish over this business: ⁴but we will give ourselves up to prayer and the ministry of the word. ⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and [the] Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch, ⁶whom they set before the apostles; and, having prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁷And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was very greatly multiplied, and a great crowd of the priests obeyed the faith. ⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought wonders and great signs among the people. ⁹And there arose up certain of those of the synagogue called of freedmen, and of Cyrenians, and of Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. ¹¹Then they suborned men, saying, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God. ¹²And they roused the people, and the elders, and the scribes. And coming upon [him] they seized him and brought [him] to the council. ¹³And they set false witnesses, saying, This man does not cease speaking words against the holy place and the law; ¹⁴for we have heard him saying, This Jesus the Nazaraean shall destroy this place, and change the customs which Moses taught us. ¹⁵And all who sat in the council, looking fixedly on him, saw his face as [the] face of an angel.