Acts 6:1-7

Contemporary English Version

Seven Leaders for the Church

6 A lot of people were now becoming followers of the Lord. But some of the ones who spoke Greek started complaining about the ones who spoke Aramaic. They complained that the Greek-speaking widows were not given their share when the food supplies were handed out each day.

²The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers together and said, “We should not give up preaching God's message in order to serve at tables.^[a] ³My friends, choose seven men who are respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of these things. ⁴We can spend our time praying and serving God by preaching.”

⁵This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who worshiped with the Jewish people^[b] in Antioch. ⁶These men were brought to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show they had been chosen to do this work. ⁷God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.

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Footnotes

6.2 to serve at tables: This may mean either that they were in charge of handing out food to the widows or that they were in charge of the money, since the Greek word “table” may also mean “bank.”
6.5 worshiped with the Jewish people: This translates the Greek word “proselyte” that means a Gentile who had accepted the Jewish religion.