Qualifications of Deacons

⁸ Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;^(A)

Salutation

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops^[a] and deacons:^[b]

³ Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or enslaved to much wine; they are to teach what is good,^(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,^{(A) 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.^{(B) 6} They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.^(C)

¹⁰ From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

²³ No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

³ not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.^(A)