Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body so that the apostles may attend only to the word of God. Stephen is accused.

6 In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve called all of the disciples together and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve at the tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, choose from among you seven men of good reputation, and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this needful business. ⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

⁵ And this proposal pleased the whole assembly. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert from Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God advanced, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and a great company of the priests accepted the faith.

⁵¹ You stiff-necked people, and of uncircumcised hearts and ears! You have always resisted the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who told before of the coming of the Just One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered. ⁵³ And you also have received a law by the ordinance of angels, and have not kept it.

⁵⁴ When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, Behold, I see the heavens open, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

⁵⁷ Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him all at once, ⁵⁸ and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on the Lord and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! ⁶⁰ And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! And when he had thus spoken, he fell asleep.