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Choosing of the Seven

¹ Now ^(F1)at this time, as the ^(C1)disciples were ^(C2)increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the ^(F2)(C3)Hellenistic Jews against the native ^(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 desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.³ "Instead, ^(C1)brothers and sisters, 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 task.⁴ "But we will ^(C1)devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^(F1)ministry of the word."⁵ The ^(F1)announcement found approval with the whole ^(F2)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 ^(F3)Nicolas, a ^(F4)(C4)proselyte from ^(C5)Antioch.⁶ And they brought these men before the apostles; and after ^(C1)praying, they ^(C2)laid their hands on them.

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

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing 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 argued with Stephen.¹⁰ But they were unable to ^(F1)cope with his 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 and dragged him away, and brought him ^(F1)before ^(C2)the ^(F2)Council.¹³ They put forward ^(C1)false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop ^(F1)speaking against this ^(C2)holy place and the Law;¹⁴ for we have heard him say that ^(C1)this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change ^(C2)the customs which Moses handed down to us."¹⁵ And all who were sitting in the ^(F1)(C1)Council stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.