1 In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called in the whole body of disciples and said to them, "It is not desirable that we should give up preaching the word of God to keep accounts. 3 You, brothers, must pick out from your number seven men of good standing, who are wise and full of the Spirit, and we will put them in charge of this matter, 4 while we devote ourselves to prayer and to delivering the message." 5 This plan met the approval of the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who had been a convert to Judaism. 6 They brought these men before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
7 So God's message continued to spread; the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a great many priests accepted the faith.
8 Stephen, greatly strengthened by God's favor, did remarkable signs and wonders among the people. 9 But members of the synagogue known as that of the Libyans, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia undertook to debate with Stephen, 10 but they could not meet his wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke.
11 So they instigated people to say, "We have heard him use abusive language about Moses and about God." 12 They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they set upon him and seized him, and brought him before the council. 13 Then they brought forward false witnesses, who said, "This man is constantly saying things against this holy place and against the Law, 14 for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down and change the customs that have been handed down to us by Moses." 15 Everyone who sat in the council fixed his eyes on him, and they saw that his face was like that of an angel.