Acts 6:1-7

The First Seven Deacons Appointed

1 Now in these days, [as] the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose by the {Greek-speaking Jews} against the {Hebraic Jews} because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution [of food].

2 So the twelve summoned the community of disciples [and] said, "It is not desirable [that] we neglect the word of God to serve tables.

3 So, brothers, select from among you seven men {of good reputation}, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will put in charge of this need.

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

5 And the statement pleased the whole group, and they chose Stephen (a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit), and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus (a convert from Antioch),

6 whom they stood before the apostles. And they prayed [and] placed [their] hands on them.

7 And the word of God kept spreading, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem was increasing greatly, and a large number of priests began obeying the faith.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were increasing")
• [b]. *The words "[in number]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [c]. Literally "Hellenists"
• [d]. Literally "Hebrews"
• [e]. Or "that"
• [f]. *The words "[of food]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [g]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("summoned") has been translated as a finite verb
• [h]. Literally "well spoken of"
• [i]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("prayed") has been translated as a finite verb
• [j]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [k]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began obeying")