PRAYER AND MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Key verse: 4
NIV
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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)
7 So the word of God spread.(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Footnotes
- Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture
Cross references
- Acts 6:1 : S Ac 2:41
- Acts 6:1 : Ac 9:29
- Acts 6:1 : Ac 9:39, 41; 1Ti 5:3
- Acts 6:1 : Ac 4:35
- Acts 6:2 : S Ac 11:26
- Acts 6:2 : S Heb 4:12
- Acts 6:3 : S Ac 1:16
- Acts 6:3 : S Lk 1:15
- Acts 6:3 : Ex 18:21; Ne 13:13
- Acts 6:4 : S Ac 1:14
- Acts 6:5 : ver 8; Ac 7:55-60; 11:19; 22:20
- Acts 6:5 : S Lk 1:15
- Acts 6:5 : Ac 8:5-40; 21:8
- Acts 6:6 : S Ac 1:24
- Acts 6:6 : Nu 8:10; 27:18; Ac 9:17; 19:6; 28:8; 1Ti 4:14; S Mk 5:23
- Acts 6:7 : Ac 12:24; 19:20
- Acts 6:7 : S Ac 2:41
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now in these days (A)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in (B)the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 (C)Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men (D)of good repute, (E)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But (F)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, (G)a man full of faith and (H)of the Holy Spirit, and (I)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, (J)a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and (K)they prayed and (L)laid their hands on them.
7 And (M)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests (N)became obedient to (O)the faith.
Read full chapterCross references
- Acts 6:1 : ch. 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; [ver. 7]
- Acts 6:1 : [ch. 4:35]
- Acts 6:3 : [Deut. 1:13]
- Acts 6:3 : [1 Tim. 3:7]
- Acts 6:3 : ver. 5; ch. 7:55; 11:24; [Luke 1:15; 4:1]
- Acts 6:4 : See ch. 1:14
- Acts 6:5 : ch. 11:24
- Acts 6:5 : ver. 3
- Acts 6:5 : ch. 8:5; 21:8
- Acts 6:5 : ch. 2:11; 13:43; Matt. 23:15
- Acts 6:6 : ch. 1:24; 13:3
- Acts 6:6 : 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6; [ch. 8:17; 9:17; 19:6; Heb. 6:2]
- Acts 6:7 : ch. 12:24; 19:20; [Col. 1:5, 6]
- Acts 6:7 : See Rom. 1:5
- Acts 6:7 : ch. 13:8; 14:22; 16:5
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our priority on your word and prayer and be ready to entrust your work to faithful leaders
One Word: Focus on prayer and the word