1In those days, as the disciples6:1 Mt 9:10; Mk 10:10; Lk 6:1; Jn 6:3; Ac 9:1,10,19,25–26; 21:4,16 were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.6:1 Ac 2:41; 4:4,35; 5:14; 9:29,39; 11:20

2The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables.

3Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation,6:3 Dt 1:13; 1Tm 3:7 full of the Spirit6:3 Lk 4:1; Ac 7:55; 11:19,24 and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.

4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen,6:5 Ac 6:8–9; 11:19; 22:20 a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.6:5 Mt 23:15; Ac 8:5,26; 21:8

6They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed6:6 Ac 1:24; 8:17; 13:3; 2Tm 1:6 and laid their hands on6:6 Nm 8:10; Ac 9:17; 1Tm 4:14 them.

8Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

9Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen.

10But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.