for he was a goodman,and fullof the HolySpiritand of faith.And considerablenumberswere broughtto the Lord.
The watchmansaid,"I thinkthe runningof the firstoneis like the runningof Ahimaazthe sonof Zadok."And the kingsaid,"Thisis a goodmanand comeswith goodnews."
It is wellwith the manwho is graciousand lends;He will maintainhis causein judgment.
The stepsof a manare establishedby the LORD,And He delightsin his way.
A goodmanwill obtainfavorfrom the LORD,But He will condemna manwho devisesevil.
A goodmanleavesan inheritanceto his children'schildren,And the wealthof the sinneris storedup for the righteous.
The backsliderin heartwill havehis fillof his own ways,But a goodmanwill [be satisfied] with his.
"The goodmanbringsout of [his] goodtreasurewhat is good;and the evilmanbringsout of [his] eviltreasurewhat is evil.
And He saidto him, "Whyare you askingMe aboutwhatis good?There is [only] Onewho is good;but ifyou wishto enterinto life,keepthe commandments."
And a mannamedJoseph,who was a member of the Council,a goodand righteousman
There was muchgrumblingamongthe crowdsconcerningHim; somewere saying,"He is a good man";otherswere saying,"No,on the contrary,He leadsthe peopleastray."
And the handof the Lordwas with them, and a largenumberwho believedturnedto the Lord.
And they were allfilledwith the HolySpiritand beganto speakwith othertongues,as the Spiritwas givingthem utterance.
praisingGodand havingfavorwith allthe people.And the Lordwas addingto their numberday by daythosewho were being saved.
"In view of this,I alsodo my bestto maintainalwaysa blamelessconscience[both] beforeGodand before men.
And all the morebelieversin the Lord,multitudesof menand women,were constantly addedto [their number],
"Therefore,brethren,selectfrom amongyou sevenmenof good reputation,fullof the Spiritand of wisdom,whomwe may put in chargeof thistask.
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.
Sothe churchthroughoutallJudeaand Galileeand Samariaenjoyedpeace,being builtup; and goingon in the fearof the Lordand in the comfortof the HolySpirit,it continued to increase.
But I have writtenvery boldlyto you on some pointssoas to remind you again,becauseof the gracethat was givenme from God,
For onewill hardlydiefor a righteous man;thoughperhapsfor the good mansomeonewould dareevento die.
