1And in those days, when the taught ones were increasing, there arose a grumbling against the Heḇrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were overlooked in the daily serving.

2So the twelve summoned the group of the taught ones and said, “It is not pleasing for us to leave the Word of Elohim and serve tables.

3“Therefore, brothers, seek out from among you seven men who are known to be filled with the Set-apart Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint for this duty,

4but we shall give ourselves continually to prayer and to serving the Word.”

5And the word pleased the entire group. And they chose Stephanos, a man filled with belief and the Set-apart Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nikanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nikolaos, a convert from Antioch,

6whom they set before the emissaries. And when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

7And the Word of Elohim spread, and the number of the taught ones increased greatly in Yerushalayim, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the belief.

8And Stephanos, filled with belief and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

9But some of those of the so-called Congregation of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Kilikia and Asia), rose up, disputing with Stephanos,

10but they were unable to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

11Then they instigated men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Mosheh and Elohim.”

12And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, so they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.

13And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this set-apart place and the Torah,

14for we have heard him saying that this יהושע of Natsareth shall overthrow this place and change the institutes which Mosheh delivered unto us.”

15And all who sat in the council, looking steadily at him, saw his face was like the face of a heavenly messenger.