1 In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaint was 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 together the whole body of the disciples, and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave off preaching the word of God to wait on tables.
3 So, brothers, you must select from your number seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit, and of good practical sense, and we will assign them to this business,
4 while we will go on devoting ourselves to prayer and the word of God."
5 This suggestion was approved by the whole body, and so they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who was a convert to Judaism.
6 They presented these men to the apostles, and after they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.
7 So God's message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly; a large number, even of priests, continued to surrender to the faith.
8 Now Stephen, full of grace and power, went on performing great 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, got to debating with Stephen,
10 but they could not cope with his good practical sense and the spiritual power with which he usually spoke.
11 So they instigated men to say, "We have heard him speaking abusive words against Moses and God."
12 By this means they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, and so they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council.
13 Then they put up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops 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 which Moses handed down to us."
15 Then all who were seated in the council fixed their eyes upon him and saw that his face was like that of an angel.