¹And in those days as the disciples increased in number, a complaint came from the Greek speakers against the Hebrew speakers, that their widows had been overlooked in the daily ministering to their needs. ²And when the twelve had called the company of disciples, they said, “It is not appropriate that we should abandon the word of God and serve at tables. ³So, brothers, select seven well-attested men from your company, full of holy spirit and wisdom, for us to appoint in this matter. ⁴But we will continue resolutely in prayer and the ministry of the word.” ⁵And the proposition found favour in the sight of the whole company, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶And they set them before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷And the word of God grew and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large contingent of the priests were obedient to the faith. ⁸Now Stephen, being full of faith and power, performed great miracles and signs among the people. ⁹But some of those of the synagogue of the so-called Libertines rose up, and of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians and those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰But they could not withstand the wisdom and spirit by which he was speaking. ¹¹Then they incited some men who said, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹²And together they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they accosted him and seized him and led him to the Sanhedrin council. ¹³And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him saying, ‘This Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.’ ” ¹⁵And all those sitting in the Sanhedrin council looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.