1 And in those days, when the talmidim were increasing, there arose a grumbling against the Iḇrim by the Yawanites, because their widows were overlooked in the daily serving.
2 So the twelve summoned the group of the talmidim and said, “It is not pleasing for us to leave the Word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 and serve tables.
3 “Therefore, brothers, seek out from among you seven men who are known to be filled with the Ruaḥ ha’Qodesh and wisdom, whom we shall appoint for this duty,
4 but we shall give ourselves continually to prayer and to serving the Word.”
5 And the word pleased the entire group. And they chose Stephanos, a man filled with belief and the Ruaḥ ha’Qodesh, and Philippos, and Proḵoros, and Nikanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nikolaos, a convert from Antioḵeus,
6 whom they put before the emissaries. And when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 And the Word of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 spread, and the number of the talmidim increased greatly in Yerushalayim, and a great many of the kohenim were obedient to the belief.
8 And Stephanos, filled with belief and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9 But some of those of the so-called Congregation of the Freedmen – Kurĕnaions, Alexandrians, and those from Kilikia and Asia – rose up, disputing with Stephanos,
10 but they were unable to resist the wisdom and the Ruaḥ by which he spoke.
11 Then they instigated men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Mosheh and Elohim.”
12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, so they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
13 And they presented false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this Miqdash and the Torah,
14 for we have heard him saying that this 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏 of Natsareth shall overthrow this place and change the institutes which Mosheh delivered unto us.”
15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadily at him, saw his face was like the face of a messenger.