^{1 Ref} And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration,

^{2 Ref} and the twelve, having called near the multitude of the disciples, said, `It is not pleasing that we, having left the word of God, do minister at tables;

^{3 Ref} look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,

^{4 Ref} and we to prayer, and to the ministration of the word, will give ourselves continually.'

^{5 Ref} And the thing was pleasing before all the multitude, and they did choose 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,

^{6 Ref} whom they did set before the apostles, and they, having prayed, laid on them `their' hands.

^{7 Ref} And the word of God did increase, and the number of the disciples did multiply in Jerusalem exceedingly; a great multitude also of the priests were obedient to the faith.

^{8 Ref} And Stephen, full of faith and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people,

^{9 Ref} and there arose certain of those of the synagogue, called of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia, and Asia, disputing with Stephen,

^{10 Ref} and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking;

^{11 Ref} then they suborned men, saying -- `We have heard him speaking evil sayings in regard to Moses and God.'

^{12 Ref} They did stir up also the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and having come upon `him', they caught him, and brought `him' to the sanhedrim;

^{13 Ref} they set up also false witnesses, saying, `This one doth not cease to speak evil sayings against this holy place and the law,

^{14 Ref} for we have heard him saying, That this Jesus the Nazarean shall overthrow this place, and shall change the customs that Moses delivered to us;'

^{15 Ref} and gazing at him, all those sitting in the sanhedrim saw his face as it were the face of a messenger.