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Choosing of the Seven

Now 1at this time while the adisciples were bincreasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the 2cHellenistic Jews against the native dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the 1congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, abrethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the 1ministry of the word.” The statement found approval with the whole 1congregation; and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and 2Nicolas, a 3dproselyte from eAntioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.

aThe word of God kept on spreading; and bthe number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great awonders and 1signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both aCyrenians and bAlexandrians, and some from cCilicia and 1dAsia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they acame up to him and dragged him away and brought him 1before bthe 2Council. 13 They put forward afalse witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this bholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that athis Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the 1aCouncil saw his face like the face of an angel.

Choosing of the Seven

Now 1at this time, as the adisciples were bincreasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the 2cHellenistic Jews against the native dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the 1congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Instead, abrothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the 1ministry of the word.” The 1announcement found approval with the whole 2congregation; and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and 3Nicolas, a 4dproselyte from eAntioch. And they brought these men before the apostles; and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.

aThe word of God kept spreading; and bthe number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great awonders and 1signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both aCyrenians and bAlexandrians, and some from cCilicia and 1dAsia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to 1cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they acame up to him and dragged him away, and brought him 1before bthe 2Council. 13 They put forward afalse witnesses who said, “This man does not stop 1speaking against this bholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that athis Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And all who were sitting in the 1aCouncil stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.

Selection of the Seven

Now in those days, while the adisciples were bmultiplying in number, there was grumbling from the 1cHellenists against the dHebrews, because their ewidows were being overlooked in fthe daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the 1congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, abrothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, bfull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need. But we will adevote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” And this word pleased the whole 1congregation, and they chose aStephen, a man bfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and cPhilip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a 2dproselyte from eAntioch. And these they stood before the apostles, and after apraying, they blaid their hands on them.

aAnd the word of God kept on spreading, and bthe number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great 1many of the priests were becoming obedient to cthe faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great awonders and 1signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both aCyrenians and bAlexandrians, and some from cCilicia and 1dAsia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they acame up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to bthe Sanhedrin. 13 And they put forward afalse witnesses who said, “This man never ceases speaking words against this bholy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that athis Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter bthe customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the aSanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel.