The Early Church

And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus. And they dismissed them.

And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

And every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

These they set before the apostles: and they praying, imposed hands upon them.

And the word of the Lord increased: and the number of the disciples was multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great multitude also of the priests obeyed the faith.

And Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people.

Now there arose some, of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines and of the Cyrenians and of the Alexandrians and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.

And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke.

Then they suborned men to say they had heard him speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.

And they stirred up the people and the ancients and the scribes. And running together, they took him and brought him to the council.

And they set up false witnesses, who said: This man ceaseth not to speak words against the holy place and the law.

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the traditions which Moses delivered unto us.

And all that sat in the council, looking on him, saw his face as if it had been the face of an angel.

Then the high priest said: Are these things so?

Who said: Ye men, brethren and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

And said to him: Go forth out of thy country and from thy kindred: and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Charan. And from thence, after his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein you now dwell.

And he gave him no inheritance in it: no, not the pace of a foot. But he promised to give it him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.

And God said to him: That his seed should sojourn in a strange country, and that they should bring them under bondage and treat them evil four hundred years.

And the nation which they shall serve will I judge (said the Lord): and after these things they shall go out and shall serve me in this place.