Seven Chosen to Serve

6 In those days, as the disciples^(A) were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.^{(B) 2} The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation,^(C) full of the Spirit^(D) and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen,^(E) a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.^{(F) 6} They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed^(G) and laid their hands on^(H) them.

⁷ So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased^(I) greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from some members of the Freedmen’s Synagogue, composed of both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, and they began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking.

¹¹ Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”^{(J) 12} They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; so they came, seized him, and took him to the Sanhedrin. ¹³ They also presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and the law.^{(K) 14} For we heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”^{(L) 15} And all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Stephen’s Sermon

7 “Are these things true?” the high priest asked.

² “Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,^(M)

God’s Real Tabernacle

⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern he had seen.^{(A) 45} Our ancestors in turn received it and with Joshua brought it in when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before them,^(B) until the days of David. ⁴⁶ He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God^[a] of Jacob.^{(C) 47} It was Solomon, rather, who built him a house,^{(D) 48} but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:^(E)

Resisting the Holy Spirit

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked^(G) people with uncircumcised hearts and ears!^(H) You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?^(I) They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers^(J) you have now become. ⁵³ You received the law under the direction of angels^(K) and yet have not kept it.”

The First Christian Martyr

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were enraged^[c] and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.^{(L) 56} He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ^(M)

⁵⁷ They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. ⁵⁸ They dragged him out of the city and began to stone^(N) him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.^{(O) 59} While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ^{(P) 60} He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,^(Q) “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.^(R)