6:1  Now at this time while the disciples increased in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because they had overlooked their widows the daily serving of food.

6:2   So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It does not seem desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

6:3   "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

6:4  "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

6:5  The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

6:6   And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

6:7   The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

6:8   And Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

6:9   But some men from what people call the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.

6:10   But they could not cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

6:11   Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."

6:12   And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.

6:13   They put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;

6:14   for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."

6:15   And fixing their gaze on him, all who sat in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.