3. My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things.
4. We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.”
5. This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshipped with the Jewish people in Antioch.
6. These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show that they had been chosen to do this work.
7. God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.
8. God gave Stephen the power to perform great miracles and wonders among the people.
9. But some Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria were members of a group who called themselves “Free Men”. They started arguing with Stephen. Some others from Cilicia and Asia also argued with him.
10. But they were no match for Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him.