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Selection of the Seven
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Now in those days, while the disciples were multiplying in number, there was grumbling from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.
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So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not pleasing to God for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
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Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this need.
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But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word."
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And this word pleased the whole congregation, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
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And these they stood before the apostles, and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
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And the word of God kept on spreading, and the number of the disciples continued to multiply greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Stephen Accused of Blasphemy
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And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
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But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen.
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But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.
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Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
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And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to the Sanhedrin.
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And they put forward false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases speaking words against this holy place and the Law;
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for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us."
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And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel.