^3 (A)Therefore, brothers,^[a] pick out from among you seven men ^(B)of good repute, ^(C)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by ^(A)outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into ^(B)a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

^8 (C)Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,^{[a] (D)}not addicted to much wine, ^(E)not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must ^(F)hold the mystery of the faith with ^(G)a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And ^(H)let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ^11 (I)Their wives likewise^[b] must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, ^(J)faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons each be ^(K)the husband of one wife, ^(L)managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For ^(M)those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, ¹⁵ if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

¹⁷ But ^(A)the wisdom from above is first pure, then ^(B)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, ^(C)full of mercy and good fruits, ^(D)impartial and ^(E)sincere. ¹⁸ And ^(F)a harvest of righteousness ^(G)is sown in peace by those who make peace.

^13 (A)Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’

¹⁰ and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has ^(A)shown hospitality, ^(B)has washed the feet of the saints, has ^(C)cared for the afflicted, and has ^(D)devoted herself to every good work.

² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ^(A)the Holy Spirit said, ^(B)“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul ^(C)for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and ^(D)praying they laid their hands on them and ^(E)sent them off.

¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Take ^(A)Joshua the son of Nun, a man ^(B)in whom is the Spirit, and ^(C)lay your hand on him. ¹⁹ Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall ^(D)commission him in their sight.

¹² Demetrius ^(A)has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and ^(B)you know that our testimony is true.

Elders Appointed to Aid Moses

¹⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me ^(A)seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and ^(B)officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. ^17 (C)And I will come down and talk with you there. And ^(D)I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and ^(E)they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. ¹⁸ And say to the people, ^(F)‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? ^(G)For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. ¹⁹ You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰ but a whole month, ^(H)until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, ^(I)“Why did we come out of Egypt?”’” ²¹ But Moses said, ^(J)“The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ ^22 (K)Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?” ²³ And the Lord said to Moses, ^(L)“Is the Lord's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether ^(M)my word will come true for you or not.”

²⁴ So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. ^(N)And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. ²⁵ Then ^(O)the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.