Acts 5:40-6:7

English Standard Version

⁴⁰ and ^(A)when they had called in the apostles, ^(B)they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(C)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(D)to suffer dishonor for ^(E)the name. ⁴² And every day, ^(F)in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(G)preaching ^(H)that the Christ is Jesus.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in these days ^(I)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists^[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^(J)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 (K)Therefore, brothers,^[b] pick out from among you seven men ^(L)of good repute, ^(M)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(N)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, ^(O)a man full of faith and ^(P)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(Q)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(R)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(S)they prayed and ^(T)laid their hands on them.

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