Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in these days ^(A)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists^[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^(B)the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ^3 (C)Therefore, brothers,^[b] pick out from among you seven men ^(D)of good repute, ^(E)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(F)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^(G)a man full of faith and ^(H)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(I)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(J)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(K)they prayed and ^(L)laid their hands on them.

⁷ And ^(M)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^(N)became obedient to ^(O)the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and ^(P)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.

² And Stephen said:

^(A)“Brothers and fathers, hear me. ^(B)The God ^(C)of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, ^(D)before he lived in Haran,

^2 (A)Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual ^(B)milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have ^(C)tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone ^(D)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ^5 (E)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as ^(F)a spiritual house, to be ^(G)a holy priesthood, ^(H)to offer spiritual sacrifices ^(I)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

⁷ So the honor is for you who ^(L)believe, but for those who ^(M)do not believe,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the word, ^(P)as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are ^(Q)a chosen race, ^(R)a royal ^(S)priesthood, ^(T)a holy nation, ^(U)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you ^(V)out of darkness into ^(W)his marvelous light. ^10 (X)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 ^(A)“Let not your hearts be troubled. ^(B)Believe in God;^[a] believe also in me. ² In ^(C)my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that ^(D)I go to prepare a place for you?^{[b] 3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you ^(E)to myself, that ^(F)where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.”^{[c] 5 (G)}Thomas said to him, “Lord, ^(H)we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am ^(I)the way, and ^(J)the truth, and ^(K)the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ^7 (L)If you had known me, you would have ^(M)known my Father also.^[d] From now on you do know him and ^(N)have seen him.”

^8 (O)Philip said to him, “Lord, ^(P)show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? ^(Q)Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that ^(R)I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you ^(S)I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that ^(T)I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else ^(U)believe on account of the works themselves.

¹² “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(V)whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I ^(W)am going to the Father. ^13 (X)Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that ^(Y)the Father may be glorified in the Son. ^14 (Z)If you ask me^[e] anything in my name, I will do it.