Acts 6:1-7

Choosing of the Seven

1 Now at this time while the 1disciples were 2increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the 3Hellenistic Jews against the native 4Hebrews, because their 5widows were being overlooked in 6the daily serving of food.
2 So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.
3 "Therefore, 7brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, 8full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
4 "But we will 9devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
5 The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose 10Stephen, a man 11full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and 12Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a 13proselyte from 14Antioch.
6 And these they brought before the apostles; and after 15praying, they 16laid their hands on them.
7 17The word of God kept on spreading; and 18the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to 19the faith.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Acts 11:26
  • 2. Acts 2:47; Acts 6:7
  • 3. Acts 9:29; Acts 11:20
  • 4. 2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:5
  • 5. Acts 9:39, 41; 1 Timothy 5:3
  • 6. Acts 4:35; Acts 11:29
  • 7. John 21:23; Acts 1:15
  • 8. Acts 2:4
  • 9. Acts 1:14
  • 10. Acts 6:8f; Acts 11:19; Acts 22:20
  • 11. Acts 6:3; Acts 11:24
  • 12. Acts 8:5f; Acts 21:8
  • 13. Matthew 23:15
  • 14. Acts 11:19
  • 15. Acts 1:24
  • 16. Numbers 8:10; Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Mark 5:23; Acts 8:17f; Acts 9:17; Acts 13:3; Acts 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2
  • 17. Acts 12:24; Acts 19:20
  • 18. Acts 6:1
  • 19. Acts 13:8; Acts 14:22; Galatians 1:23; Galatians 6:10; Jude 3, 20

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Lit "in these days"
  • [b]. Jews who adopted the Gr language and much of Gr culture through acculturation
  • [c]. Lit "multitude"
  • [d]. Or "service"
  • [e]. Lit "multitude"
  • [f]. Gr "Nikolaos"
  • [g]. I.e. a Gentile convert to Judaism
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