1. Now in these days, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
2. So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables.
3. So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.
4. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5. And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch),
6. whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed and placed their hands on them.
7. And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying the faith.
8. Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
9. But some of those from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and disputed with Stephen.
10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.