The Koine Bible

Now in these days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

Then the twelve called together the whole group of disciples and said, It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

But select, brothers, seven men from among you who are well attested, full of spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this task.

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

And the word pleased all the crowd, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch,

Whom they set before the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large crowd of the priests were obedient to the faith.

But Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

But some of those from the synagogue called Libertines and Cyrenians and Alexandrians and some from Cilicia and Asia stood up, arguing with Stephen,

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

Then they secretly brought in men who said, We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.

And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and standing by they seized him and brought him into the council,

And they set up false witnesses, saying, This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,

For we have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.

And when all who were sitting in the council fixed their eyes on him, they saw his face as the face of an angel.