1Now in those days, while the disciples were multiplying, a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews arose, because their widows were being neglected in the daily service.2Then the twelve called together the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not pleasing to us to leave behind the word of God in order to serve tables."3Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men who are attested, full of spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint over this need.4But we ourselves will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.5And the word pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.6They presented these before the apostles, and after praying they laid their hands on them.7And the word of God continued to grow, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was multiplying greatly; moreover, a large crowd of the priests became obedient to the faith.