Pirmo diakonu izraudzīšana
1 Tajās dienās, pieaugot mācekļu skaitam, grieķiski runājošie jūdi sāka kurnēt pret ebrejiem, tādēļ ka viņu atraitnes pie ikdienas aprūpes paliekot neievērotas. 2 Pieaicinājuši mācekļu pulku, tie divpadsmit sacīja: “Nepiedien, ja mēs atstājam novārtā Dieva vārdu un kalpojam pie galda. 3 Tādēļ, brāļi, izraugieties no sava vidus septiņus vīrus, par kuriem zināms, ka tie ir Gara un gudrības pilni, un iecelsim tos šo pienākumu veikšanai. 4 Bet mēs pastāvīgi paliksim lūgšanās un kalpošanā ar vārdu.” 5 Šie vārdi iepriecināja visu ļaužu pulku. Viņi izraudzījās Stefanu, ticības un Svētā Gara pilnu vīru, Filipu un Prohoru, un Nikanoru, un Timonu, un Parmenu, un Nikolaju, Antiohijas prosēlītu, 6 un nostādīja tos apustuļu priekšā, un tie, Dievu pielūguši, uzlika viņiem rokas. 7 Dieva vārds auga, un mācekļu skaits Jeruzālemē strauji pieauga, arī daudzi priesteri pieņēma ticību.
Stefana apcietināšana
8 Bet Stefans, Dieva žēlastības un spēka pilns, darīja lielus brīnumus un zīmes tautā. 9 Tad cēlās daži no tā sauktās libertīnu sinagogas – kirēnieši un aleksandrieši, kā arī Kilikijas un Āzijas jūdi un sāka strīdēties ar Stefanu. 10 Bet tie nespēja turēties pretī gudrībai un Garam, ar kādu viņš runāja. 11 Tad viņi pierunāja kādus vīrus, lai tie saka: “Mēs esam dzirdējuši, ka viņš par Mozu un Dievu runā zaimojošus vārdus.” 12 Un viņi sakūdīja tautu un vecajos, un rakstu mācītājus. Tie metās viņam virsū un sagrāba viņu, un aizveda uz sinedriju. 13 Viņi atveda viltus lieciniekus, kuri sacīja: “Šis cilvēks nemitas runāt zaimus pret šo svēto vietu un bauslību. 14 Mēs paši dzirdējām viņu sakām, ka Jēzus, Nācarietis, nopostīšot šo vietu un mainīšot ieražas, ko mums mantojumā devis Mozus.” 15 Visi sinedrijā sēdošie uzlūkoja Stefanu un redzēja viņa vaigu itin kā eņģeļa vaigu.
The Seven Helpers
1 Some time later, as the number of disciples kept growing, there was a quarrel between the Greek-speaking Jews and the native Jews. The Greek-speaking Jews claimed that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of funds. 2 So the twelve apostles called the whole group of believers together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the preaching of God's word in order to handle finances. 3 So then, friends, choose seven men among you who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this matter. 4 We ourselves, then, will give our full time to prayer and the work of preaching.”
5 The whole group was pleased with the apostles' proposal, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a Gentile from Antioch who had earlier been converted to Judaism. 6 The group presented them to the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them.
7 And so the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew larger and larger, and a great number of priests accepted the faith.
The Arrest of Stephen
8 Stephen, a man richly blessed by God and full of power, performed great miracles and wonders among the people. 9 But he was opposed by some men who were members of the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), which had Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. They and other Jews from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia started arguing with Stephen. 10 But the Spirit gave Stephen such wisdom that when he spoke, they could not refute him. 11 So they bribed some men to say, “We heard him speaking against Moses and against God!” 12 In this way they stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the Law. They seized Stephen and took him before the Council. 13 Then they brought in some men to tell lies about him. “This man,” they said, “is always talking against our sacred Temple and the Law of Moses. 14 We heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will tear down the Temple and change all the customs which have come down to us from Moses!” 15 All those sitting in the Council fixed their eyes on Stephen and saw that his face looked like the face of an angel.
