NOW in those days, when the disciples were multiplied, there arose a
murmuring of the Grecian proselytes against the Hebrews, because their
widows were overlooked in the daily distribution. (2)Then the twelve
assembling the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not fit that we
should leave the word of God, to make distribution to the tables.
(3)Therefore, brethren, do ye look out for seven men from among
yourselves, the best approved, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom
we may appoint to superintend this business. (4)But we will devote
ourselves constantly to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
(5)And this saying was very agreeable to all the multitude: and they
elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas a
proselyte a man of Antioch: (6)whom they presented before the apostles:
and having prayed, they laid their hands upon them. (7)And the word of
God increased: and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was
multiplied greatly; and a vast body of the priests were obedient to the
faith.
(8)Now Stephen, full of faith and of power, wrought great miracles and
signs among the people. (9)Then rose up certain men of the synagogue of
the freed-men, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of
those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. (10)And they could
not resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. (11)Then they
suborned men to say, We heard him speak blasphemous things against
Moses, and against God. (12)And they stirred up the people, and the
elders, and the scribes, and coming upon him, they seized him together,
and dragged him to the sanhedrim; (13)and they set up false witnesses,
saying, This man doth not cease speaking blasphemous words against this
holy place, and the law: (14)for we have heard him affirm, that Jesus
the Nazarean, even he, will destroy this place, and change the
accustomed ordinances which Moses delivered to us. (15)And fixing their
eyes upon him, all who sat in the sanhedrim, beheld his face as the
face of an angel.