Dual Panel1Now<1161> at this<3778> time<2250> while the disciples<3101> were increasing<4129> in number, a complaint<1112> arose<1096> on the part of the Hellenistic<1675> Jews against<4314> the native Hebrews<1445>, because<3754> their widows<5503> were being overlooked<3865> in the daily<2522> serving<1248> of food.
2So<1161> the twelve<1427> summoned<4341> the congregation<4128> of the disciples<3101> and said<3004>, "It is not desirable<701> for us to neglect<2641> the word<3056> of God<2316> in order to serve<1247> tables<5132>.
3"Therefore<1161>, brethren<80>, select<1980> from among<1537> you seven<2033> men<435> of good<3140> reputation<3140>, full<4134> of the Spirit<4151> and of wisdom<4678>, whom<3739> we may put<2525> in charge<2525> of this<3778> task<5532>.
4"But we will devote<4342> ourselves<4342> to prayer<4335> and to the ministry<1248> of the word<3056>."
5The statement<3056> found<700> approval<700> with the whole<3956> congregation<4128>; and they chose<1586> Stephen<4736>, a man<435> full<4134> of faith<4102> and of the Holy<40> Spirit<4151>, and Philip<5376>, Prochorus<4402>, Nicanor<3527>, Timon<5096>, Parmenas<3937> and Nicolas<3532>, a proselyte<4339> from Antioch<491>.
6And these<3739> they brought<2476> before<1799> the apostles<652>; and after praying<4336>, they laid<2007> their hands<5495> on them.
7The word<3056> of God<2316> kept on spreading<837>; and the number<706> of the disciples<3101> continued to increase<4129> greatly<4970> in Jerusalem<2419>, and a great<4183> many<3793> of the priests<2409> were becoming<5219> obedient<5219> to the faith<4102>.
8And Stephen<4736>, full<4134> of grace<5485> and power<1411>, was performing<4160> great<3173> wonders<5059> and signs<4592> among<1722> the people<2992>.
9But some<5100> men<5100> from what was called<3004> the Synagogue<4864> of the Freedmen<3032>, including both<2532> Cyrenians<2956> and Alexandrians<221>, and some<3588> from Cilicia<2791> and Asia<773>, rose<450> up and argued<4802> with Stephen<4736>.
10But they were unable<3756><2480> to cope<436> with the wisdom<4678> and the Spirit<4151> with which<3739> he was speaking<2980>.
11Then<5119> they secretly<5260> induced<5260> men<435> to say<3004>, "We have heard<191> him speak<2980> blasphemous<989> words<4487> against<1519> Moses<3475> and against God<2316>."
12And they stirred<4787> up the people<2992>, the elders<4245> and the scribes<1122>, and they came<2186> up to him and dragged<4884> him away<4884> and brought<71> him before<1519> the Council<4892>.
13They put<2476> forward<2476> false<5571> witnesses<3144> who said<3004>, "This<3778> man<444> incessantly<3756><3973> speaks<2980> against<2596> this<3778> holy<40> place<5117> and the Law<3551>;
14for we have heard<191> him say<3004> that this<3778> Nazarene<3480>, Jesus<2424>, will destroy<2647> this<3778> place<5117> and alter<236> the customs<1485> which<3739> Moses<3475> handed<3860> down<3860> to us."
15And fixing<816> their gaze<816> on him, all<3956> who were sitting<2516> in the Council<4892> saw<3708> his face<4383> like<5616> the face<4383> of an angel<32>.