³ And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem.

¹⁸ With him we are sending the brother who is praised among all the churches for his work for the gospel,^{(A) 19} and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking^[a] for the glory of the Lord himself^[b] and to show our goodwill.^{(B) 20} We are making this arrangement lest anyone blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, ²¹ for we are setting our minds on what is right not only before the Lord but also before the people.^{(C) 22} And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers^[c] of the churches, the glory of Christ.^{(D) 24} Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you to them.^(E)

⁶ so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking^[a] among you.^(A)

⁴ begging us earnestly for the favor^[a] of partnering in this ministry to the saints,^(A)

³⁴ If you are hungry, eat at home,^[a] so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.^(A)

¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.^{(A) 20} For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power. ²¹ What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick or with love in a spirit of gentleness?^(B)

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.^{(A) 2} And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.^{[a] 3} Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,^{(B) 4} while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” ⁵ What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.^{(C) 6} They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.^(D)