Addressing prejudice in the Congregation
1 In those days when the number of disciples was multiplying, the Greek-speaking Jews began to complain to the Hebrews that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food distribution. 2 So The Twelve called everyone together for a meeting and said, “We do not want to neglect the Word of God in order to serve tables. 3 So, brothers and sisters, pick out seven respected men from among you, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, for us to put in charge of this problem. 4 Then we can concentrate on prayer and serving the Word.”
5 This solution pleased the whole crowd, so they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Prochoros, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas (a proselyte from Antioch). 6 They presented themselves to the apostles, who prayed and dedicated them. 7 So the Word of God spread out, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied tremendously, including a sizable number of priests who heeded the faith.
Stephen is arrested
8 Now Stephen, full of favor and power, performed great miracles and signs among the people. 9 And then came some members of the Freed Collective, with residents of Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia and the province of Asia, debating with Stephen. 10 But they could not refute the wisdom and spirit with which he spoke. 11 So they planted some men in the crowd to say, “We have heard him speaking irreverent things against Moses and God!”
12 They stirred up the people, along with the elders and scribes who were standing nearby, and they seized him and took him to the Sanhedrin. 13 They also had false witnesses testify, “This person never stops speaking out against this holy place and the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15 And those seated in the Sanhedrin kept staring at him, because they saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.