Seven Chosen to Serve

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. 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. (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. But (F)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 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. These they set before the apostles, and (K)they prayed and (L)laid their hands on them.

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Greek-speaking Jews
  2. Acts 6:3 Or brothers and sisters

The Choosing of the Seven

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) 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. 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) and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”

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. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

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16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so (A)that[a] they may see your good works and (B)give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(A) that they may see your good deeds(B) and glorify(C) your Father in heaven.

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16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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10 (A)As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, (B)as good stewards of God's varied grace:

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10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,(A) as faithful(B) stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

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10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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But you are (A)a chosen race, (B)a royal (C)priesthood, (D)a holy nation, (E)a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you (F)out of darkness into (G)his marvelous light. 10 (H)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you (I)as sojourners and exiles (J)to abstain from the passions of the flesh, (K)which wage war against your soul. 12 (L)Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, (M)they may see your good deeds and glorify God on (N)the day of visitation.

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But you are a chosen people,(A) a royal priesthood,(B) a holy nation,(C) God’s special possession,(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(E) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(F) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(G) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(H) to abstain from sinful desires,(I) which wage war against your soul.(J) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(K) and glorify God(L) on the day he visits us.

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But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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The Creation of the World

In the (A)beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was (B)without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, (C)“Let there be light,” and there was light.

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In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

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16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your (A)book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

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16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(A) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

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16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

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But he said to me, (A)“My grace is sufficient for you, for (B)my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that (C)the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 (D)For the sake of Christ, then, (E)I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For (F)when I am weak, then I am strong.

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But he said to me, “My grace(A) is sufficient for you, for my power(B) is made perfect in weakness.(C)(D) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight(E) in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,(F) in persecutions,(G) in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.(H)

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And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

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10 The thief comes only to steal and (A)kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,(A) and have it to the full.(B)

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10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

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37 (A)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore (B)pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to (C)send out laborers into his harvest.”

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37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest(A) is plentiful but the workers are few.(B) 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

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37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

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