The Choosing of the Seven

6 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) 2} 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. ³ 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) 4} and will give our attention to prayer^(J) and the ministry of the word.”

⁵ 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.

¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.^(A) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,^(B) so that the Gentiles might become an offering^(C) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(A) may be built up^{(B) 13} until we all reach unity^(C) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(D) and become mature,^(E) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(F)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(G) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(H) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(I) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(J) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(K) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(L) and builds itself up^(M) in love,^(N) as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian Living

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer^(O) live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.^{(P) 18} They are darkened in their understanding^(Q) and separated from the life of God^(R) because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.^{(S) 19} Having lost all sensitivity,^(T) they have given themselves over^(U) to sensuality^(V) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off^(W) your old self,^(X) which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;^(Y)