⁵ The whole group ·liked [was pleased with] the idea, so they chose these seven men: Stephen (a man ·with great [^Lfull of] faith and full of the Holy Spirit), Philip [^Cnot the apostle of the same name], Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas (a man from Antioch [^Ca major city in Syria] who ·had become a follower of the Jewish religion [^Lwas a prosylete; ^Ca Gentile convert to Judaism]. ⁶ Then they ·put [presented] these men before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands [^Ca ritual of blessing and/or conferring of authority] on them.

⁷ The word of God was continuing to spread. The ·group [number] of ·followers [disciples] in Jerusalem [quickly; or greatly] ·increased [multiplied], and a great number of the Jewish priests ·believed and obeyed [^Lbecome obedient to the faith].