3
Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.
4
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry."
5
The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.
6
They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7
So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
9
Then some from what is called the Freedmen's Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and disputed with Stephen.
10
But they were unable to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he spoke.
11
Then they induced men to say, "We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God!"
12
They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came up, dragged him off, and took him to the Sanhedrin.
13
They also presented false witnesses who said, "This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.