For thosewho have servedwellas deaconsobtainfor themselvesa highstandingand greatconfidencein the faiththat is in ChristJesus.
justas the Sonof Mandid not cometo be served,but to serve,and to giveHis lifea ransomfor many."
"His mastersaidto him, 'Well done,goodand faithfulslave.You were faithfulwith a few things,I will put you in chargeof many things;enterinto the joyof your master.'
"And he saidto him, 'Welldone,goodslave,becauseyou have beenfaithfulin a very little thing,you are to be in authorityovertencities.'
Whenhe gotto the stairs,he was carriedby the soldiersbecauseof the violenceof the mob;
And fixing their gazeon him, allwho were sittingin the Councilsawhis facelikethe faceof an angel.
The statementfound approvalwith the wholecongregation;and they choseStephen,a manfullof faithand of the HolySpirit,and Philip,Prochorus,Nicanor,Timon,Parmenasand Nicolas,a proselytefrom Antioch.
And Stephen,fullof graceand power,was performinggreatwondersand signsamongthe people.
NowI urgeyou, brethren(you knowthe householdof Stephanas,that they were the first fruitsof Achaia,and that they have devotedthemselvesfor ministryto the saints),
and that mostof the brethren,trustingin the Lordbecause of my imprisonment,havefar morecourageto speakthe wordof Godwithout fear.
but after we had already sufferedand been mistreatedin Philippi,as you know,we had the boldnessin our Godto speakto you the gospelof Godamidmuchopposition.
I am writingthese thingsto you, hopingto cometo you before long;
You therefore,my son,be strongin the gracethat is in ChristJesus.
For Godis not unjustso as to forgetyour workand the lovewhichyou have showntowardHis name,in having ministeredand in still ministeringto the saints.
