The First Seven Deacons Appointed

Now in these days, as[a] the disciples were increasing in number,[b] a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews[c] against the Hebraic Jews[d] because[e] their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.[f] So the twelve summoned the community of disciples and[g] said, “It is not desirable that we neglect the word of God to serve tables. So, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation,[h] full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch), whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed and[i] placed their[j] hands on them.

And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying[k] the faith.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were increasing”)
  2. Acts 6:1 *The words “in number” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  3. Acts 6:1 Literally “Hellenists”
  4. Acts 6:1 Literally “Hebrews”
  5. Acts 6:1 Or “that”
  6. Acts 6:1 *The words “of food” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  7. Acts 6:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“summoned”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Acts 6:3 Literally “well spoken of”
  9. Acts 6:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“prayed”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Acts 6:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  11. Acts 6:7 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began obeying”)

Now de in en · ho these houtos days hēmera when the number of the ho disciples mathētēs was increasing plēthunō, there was ginomai a complaint gongysmos by the ho Hellenists Hellēnistēs against pros the ho Hebrews Hebraios because hoti their autos widows chēra were being neglected paratheōreō in en the ho daily kathēmerinos distribution diakonia of food. · ho · ho So de the ho twelve dōdeka called proskaleō together the ho entire group plēthos of ho disciples mathētēs and said legō, “ It is eimi not ou right arestos for us hēmeis to neglect kataleipō the ho word logos of ho God theos in order to wait diakoneō on tables trapeza. Therefore de, brothers adelphos, select episkeptomai from among ek you hymeis seven hepta men anēr of good standing martyreō, full plērēs of the Spirit pneuma and kai of wisdom sophia, whom hos we will appoint kathistēmi to epi carry out · ho this houtos responsibility chreia. But de we hēmeis will devote ourselves proskartereō to ho prayer proseuchē and kai to the ho ministry diakonia of the ho word logos.” And kai the ho proposal logos pleased areskō the ho entire pas group plēthos, so kai they chose eklegomai Stephen Stephanos, a man anēr full plērēs of faith pistis and kai of the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma; also kai Philip Philippos and kai Prochorus Prochoros and kai Nicanor Nikanōr and kai Timon Timōn and kai Parmenas Parmenas and kai Nicolaus Nikolaos, a proselyte prosēlytos of Antioch Antiocheus. These hos they set histēmi before enōpion the ho apostles apostolos, · kai who prayed proseuchomai and laid epitithēmi their ho hands cheir on them autos. And kai the ho word logos of ho God theos continued to spread auxanō, and kai the ho number arithmos of ho disciples mathētēs increased plēthunō greatly sphodra in en Jerusalem Ierousalēm, and te a large polys group ochlos of ho priests hiereus became obedient hypakouō to the ho faith pistis.

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The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,(A) the Hellenistic Jews[a](B) among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows(C) were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.(D) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples(E) together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God(F) in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters,(G) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit(H) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them(I) and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,(K) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;(L) also Philip,(M) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)

So the word of God spread.(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture