Acts 6
1 In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
2 So the twelve called the whole company of disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to leave the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brothers, choose from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we will appoint them to this task.
4 As for us, we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 The proposal pleased the whole company, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6 They presented them to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to grow, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; a large crowd of priests also obeyed the faith.
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some from the synagogue called the Freedmen, along with Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen,
10 but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded men to say, “We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law; then they came up, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
13 They brought forward false witnesses, who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the Law.
14 For we heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 Everyone seated in the Sanhedrin fixed their eyes on him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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