The number of disciples was increasing, and some complained that there were those who were needy and were not being taken care of. The Twelve called the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom. We will hand this duty over to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to teaching." They approved of this and the Twelve prayed and laid their hands on the seven they had chosen.
At this time the word of the Lord continued to spread. Many more became disciples and a large group of priests came to the faith.
One of the seven chosen by the people was a man named Stephen. He was filled with grace and power, and began to work miracles among the people. But some people debated with him, and finding that they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit Who prompted what he said, they got some men to say, "We heard him speaking blasphemy against Moses and against God."
In this way they turned the people as well as the Jewish leaders against Stephen; running together they grabbed Stephen and brought him before the religious court. There they put up false witnesses to say, "This man is always making speeches against the Law of Moses. We have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth is going to change the traditions that Moses gave us." The members of the court looked intently at Stephen, and all saw that his face was as the face of an angel.
"Is this true?" the high priest asked Stephen. Beginning with Abraham, Stephen went through the whole history of Israel, and recalled the many times the people had turned away from God. He concluded, "You stubborn, stiff necked people, you are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Messiah, and you have betrayed and murdered the Messiah Himself."
They were infuriated at this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. "I can see heaven thrown open," he said, "and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this all the members of the court screamed and stopped their ears and rushed upon Stephen all together. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." With these words he fell asleep in the Lord. Saul entirely approved of the killing.
That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to other places. There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
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