¹³ I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.^(A)

² I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani,^(A) along with Hananiah^(B) the commander of the citadel,^(C) because he was a man of integrity and feared^(D) God more than most people do.

⁷ But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings.”^(A)

² Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

³ Brothers and sisters,^(A) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit^(B) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them^(C)

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)

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,^(A) and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,^(B) who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

⁴⁴ At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms^(A) for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes.^(B) From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites.^(C)

¹⁵ They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.^(A)

¹⁰ They must first be tested;^(A) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.