1In those days, as the number of disciples was increasing, there occurred a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were treated with disdain in the daily ministration. 2And so the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: “It is not fair for us to leave behind the Word of God to serve at tables also. 3Therefore, brothers, search among yourselves for seven men of good testimony, filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom, whom we may appoint over this work. 4Yet truly, we will be continually in prayer and in the ministry of the Word.” 5And the plan pleased the entire multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a new arrival from Antioch. 6These they set before the sight of the Apostles, and while praying, they imposed hands on them. 7And the Word of the Lord was increasing, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was multiplied exceedingly. And even a large group of the priests were obedient to the faith.
1A Psalm of David. Exult in the Lord, you just ones; together praise the upright. 2Confess to the Lord with stringed instruments; sing psalms to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. 3Sing to him a new song. Sing psalms to him skillfully, with loud exclamation. 4For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his works are in faith. 5He loves mercy and judgment. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. 6By the word of the Lord, the heavens were established, and all their power, by the Spirit of his mouth: 7gathering together the waters of the sea, as if in a container, placing the depths in storage. 8Let all the earth fear the Lord, and may all the inhabitants of the world quake before him. 9For he spoke, and they became. He commanded, and they were created. 10The Lord scatters the counsels of the nations. Moreover, he reproves the thoughts of the people, and he rejects the counsels of the leaders. 11But the counsel of the Lord remains for eternity, the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation. 12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his inheritance. 13The Lord has looked down from heaven. He has seen all the sons of men. 14From his well-prepared dwelling place, he has gazed upon all who dwell on the earth. 15He has formed the hearts of each one of them; he understands all their works. 16The king is not saved by great power, nor will the giant be saved by his many powers. 17The horse is false safety; for he will not be saved by the abundance of his powers. 18Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him and on those who hope in his mercy, 19so as to rescue their souls from death and to feed them during famine.
16Then, when evening arrived, his disciples descended to the sea. 17And when they had climbed into a boat, they went across the sea to Capernaum. And darkness had now arrived, and Jesus had not returned to them. 18Then the sea was stirred up by a great wind that was blowing. 19And so, when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid. 20But he said to them: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 21Therefore, they were willing to receive him into the boat. But immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.