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1In those days when the number of disciples was growing, the Greek-speaking Jews complained about the Jews who were native to Judea. They said that their own widows weren’t getting their fair share of the food that was given out each day to those in need.
2So the 12 apostles gathered all the disciples together. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to give up teaching God’s word in order to wait on tables.
3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are wise and filled with the Holy Spirit. We’ll turn this important work over to them.
4Then we can devote our efforts to prayer and to teaching God’s word.”
5This plan pleased everyone. They chose Stephen, a man who was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, who was a convert to the Jewish faith.
6The group brought these men to the apostles, and they prayed for them and placed their hands on them.
7So God’s word kept spreading. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew quickly, and a large number of priests began to obey Jesus’ teachings.
8Stephen was filled with God’s grace and power. He did great wonders and signs among the people.
9But members of a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen began to oppose him. Some of them were Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. Others were Jews from Cilicia and Asia. They all began to argue with Stephen.
10But he was too wise for them, because the Holy Spirit gave him wisdom whenever he spoke.
11Then they secretly talked some men into lying about Stephen. Those men claimed, “We heard Stephen speak about Moses and God as if they weren’t holy.”
12This upset the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They arrested Stephen and brought him to the Sanhedrin.
13They found witnesses who were willing to lie about him. The witnesses said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy temple and against the Law of Moses.
14We’ve heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the practices that Moses handed down to us.”
15All the members of the Sanhedrin looked right at Stephen and saw that his face had become like the face of an angel.