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Selection of the Seven

¹ Now in those days, while the ^(C1)disciples were ^(C2)multiplying in number, there was grumbling from the ^(F1)(C3)Hellenists against the ^(C4)Hebrews, because their ^(C5)widows were being overlooked in ^(C6)the daily serving of food.² So the twelve summoned the ^(F1)congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.³ "Therefore, ^(C1)brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^(C2)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need.⁴ "But we will ^(C1)devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word."⁵ And this word pleased the whole ^(F1)congregation, and they chose ^(C1)Stephen, a man ^(C2)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^(C3)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a ^(F2)(C4)proselyte from ^(C5)Antioch.⁶ And these they stood before the apostles, and after ^(C1)praying, they ^(C2)laid their hands on them.

^7 (C1)And the word of God kept on spreading, and ^(C2)the number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great ^(F1)many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^(C3)the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great ^(C1)wonders and ^(F1)signs among the people.⁹ But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^(C1)Cyrenians and ^(C2)Alexandrians, and some from ^(C3)Cilicia and ^(F1)(C4)Asia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen.¹⁰ But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."¹² And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they ^(C1)came up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to ^(C2)the Sanhedrin.¹³ And they put forward ^(C1)false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases speaking words against this ^(C2)holy place and the Law;¹⁴ for we have heard him say that ^(C1)this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter ^(C2)the customs which Moses handed down to us."¹⁵ And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the ^(C1)Sanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel.