Acts 6
The disciples were increasing in number, and a complaint arose that the Greek widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The twelve apostles decided to appoint seven men to oversee this work, and they chose Stephen, Philip, and five others, who were set before the apostles and ordained through prayer and the laying on of hands. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, performed great signs and miracles, but was disputed by certain groups and eventually falsely accused of blasphemy against Moses and God. He was seized and brought before the council, where false witnesses testified against him.
In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministrationAnd so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: "It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables alsoTherefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this workYet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from AntiochThese they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on themAnd the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faithThen Stephen, filled with grace and fortitude, wrought great signs and miracles among the peopleBut certain ones, from the synagogue of the so-called Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those who were from Cilicia and Asia rose up and were disputing with StephenBut they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speakingThen they suborned men who were to claim that they had heard him speaking words of blasphemy against Moses and against GodAnd thus did they stir up the people and the elders and the scribes. And hurrying together, they seized him and brought him to the councilAnd they set up false witnesses, who said: "This man does not cease to speak words against the holy place and the lawFor 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.And all those who were sitting in the council, gazing at him, saw his face, as if it had become the face of an Angel
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