Seven Chosen to Serve
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the eHellenists1 arose against the fHebrews because their gwidows were being neglected in the hdaily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, i“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,2 jpick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will kdevote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man lfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they mprayed and nlaid their hands on them.
7 And the oword of God continued to increase, and the pnumber of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Is Seized
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was qdoing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they rcould not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak sblasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and tthey set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against uthis holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will vdestroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his wface was like the face of an angel.
Worship in the Splendor of Holiness
1 cOh dsing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, ebless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 fDeclare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For ggreat is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is hto be feared iabove all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 jAscribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the kglory due his name;
bring an offering, and lcome into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;1
mtremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord nreigns!
oYes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 pLet the heavens be glad, and qlet the earth rejoice;
rlet the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest ssing for joy
13 tbefore the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
