1Andinthosedays, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Greciansagainst the Hebrews, becausetheirwidows were neglectedin the dailyministration.
2Then the twelvecalled the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It isnotreason that we should leave the word of God, and servetables.
3Wherefore, brethren, look ye outamongyousevenmen of honest report, full of the HolyGhostandwisdom, whom we may appointoverthisbusiness.
4Butwe will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5And the sayingpleased the wholemultitude: and they choseStephen, a manfull of faithand of the HolyGhost, andPhilip, andProchorus, andNicanor, andTimon, andParmenas, andNicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6Whom they setbefore the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their handsonthem.
7And the word of Godincreased; and the number of the disciplesmultipliedinJerusalemgreatly; and a greatcompany of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8AndStephen, full of faithandpower, didgreatwondersandmiraclesamong the people.
9Then there arosecertainof the synagogue, which is called the synagogueof the Libertines, andCyrenians, andAlexandrians, andof them ofCiliciaandofAsia, disputing with Stephen.
10And they werenotable to resist the wisdomand the spirit by which he spake.
11Then they subornedmen, which said, We have heardhimspeakblasphemouswordsagainstMoses, andagainstGod.
12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came uponhim, andcaughthim, andbroughthimto the council,
13And set upfalsewitnesses, which said, Thismanceasethnot to speakblasphemouswordsagainstthisholyplace, and the law:
14For we have heardhimsay, thatthisJesus of Nazareth shall destroythisplace, and shall change the customswhichMosesdeliveredus.
15Andall that satin the council, looking stedfastlyonhim, sawhisface as it had been the face of an angel.