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Choosing of the Seven
Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
“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.
And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
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.
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
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 were becoming obedient to the faith.
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
Stephen Is Arrested
Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.
But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.
But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.
But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.”
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.
They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;
The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.
for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”