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1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
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2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
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3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
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4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
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5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
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6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
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7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
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9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
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10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
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11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
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12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
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13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
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14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
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15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
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- 1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
- 2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
- 3 “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
- 4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- 5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
- 6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
- 7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
- 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
- 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen.
- 10 But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
- 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
- 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council.
- 13 They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law;
- 14 for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.”
- 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
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