6:1In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministry. 6:2So the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: "It is not fair that we should abandon the word of God, and serve at tables. 6:3Look out therefore, brothers, seven men from among you of good testimony, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work. 6:4But we will be persevering in prayer and in the ministry of the word." 6:5And the speech pleased the whole multitude. 6:5And 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.
6:6These they set before the sight of the Apostles: and praying they laid hands on them. 6:7And the word of the Lord was growing, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was being multiplied greatly: a great crowd of the priests too was obeying the faith. 6:8And Stephen, full of grace and of strength, was doing wonders and great signs among the people. 6:9But there rose up certain men from the synagogue which is called that of the Freedmen, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia, and Asia, disputing with Stephen: and they were not able to resist the wisdom, and the Spirit who was speaking.
6:11Then they secretly put forward men, to say that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against God. 6:12And so they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes: and running together they seized him, and brought him into the council, and set up false witnesses, to say: "This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place, and the law: for we have heard him saying that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place, and will change the traditions which Moses handed down to us." 6:15And gazing at him, all who were sitting in the council saw his face like the face of an angel.