Acts 6

Seven Chosen to Serve

¹In those days, as the disciples ^a were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. ^{b 2}The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. ³Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^c full of the Spirit ^d and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, ^e a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch. ^{f 6}They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed ^g and laid their hands on ^h them.

⁷So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased ⁱ greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

⁸Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

¹¹Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ^{j 12}They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law. ^{k 14}For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” ^{l 15}And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.