6 However around that time when the number of Yeshua-followers were growing, some of the Greek converts starting grumbling about the Jewish believers because the Greek widows were being overlooked in the daily sharing of food and money. 2 So the twelve missionaries assembled the believers together and told them, “We’re not pleased about having to take time off sharing the message of God to be serving here at the distribution tables. 3 So brothers, look around you for seven men who’re well known to be full of God’s spirit and wisdom, so we can appoint them to be in charge of this part of the work. 4 Then we ourselves can continue to pray and share the message.”

5 This idea pleased the group, so they went ahead and chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the holy spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a non-Jew from Antioch who had previously converted to Judaism). 6 They stood these seven up in front of the missionaries, who prayed and then placed their hands on them.

7 God’s message continued spreading and the number of followers in Yerushalem was rapidly increasing, and a large number of the priests became believers.