In those days
as the disciples were increasing in number
a grumbling began
amongst the Greek-speaking Jewish Christians
against the Aramaic-speaking Jewish Christians,
that their widows
were neglected in the daily ‘distribution of food’.
When the Twelve called together
the whole number of disciples they said:
‘It is not right
for us to leave the Word of God
to serve at tables.
So pick out, brothers/sisters
from among you
seven men, of good reputation:
full of Spirit and wisdom,
whom we may put in charge
of this needful thing.
And we will be devoted to prayer
and the ministry of the word.
And (this suggestion) pleased all the other disciples
and they chose for themselves
Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
and Philip and Prochorus, Nicanor, Parmenas,
and Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch.
They stood these men before the apostles
who prayed
and laid their hands on them.
And the Word of God grew and
the number of disciples
in Jerusalem
increased greatly.
A large group of priests became obedient to the faith.