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New Testament
Acts 6
Choosing the Seven
61In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, a complaint arose from the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2So the Twelve called together the whole group of disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, carefully select from among you seven men with good reputations, who are full of the Holy[] Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this service. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5This proposal pleased the entire group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7The word of God kept on spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly. Also a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Is Arrested
8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. 9Some men who were from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia) rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10But they were unable to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
11Then they secretly induced some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12They stirred up the people, the elders, and the experts in the law. They came, dragged Stephen away, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops making threats against this holy place and the law. 14In fact, we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15All those who were sitting in the Sanhedrin were looking intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Footnotes
- 6:3 Some witnesses to the text omit Holy.