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¹ Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service.² And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God to serve tables.³ But, brothers, find seven men of good report from among you, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the service of the word.⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;⁶ whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.⁷ And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.⁹ But there arose certain of those that were of the synagogue called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.¹⁰ And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.¹¹ Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.¹² And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came on him, and seized him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin,¹³ and set up false witnesses, who said, This man does not cease to speak words against this holy place, and the law:¹⁴ for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us.¹⁵ And all that sat in the Sanhedrin, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.