Seven Chosen to Serve
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the eHellenists1 arose against the fHebrews because their gwidows were being neglected in the hdaily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, i“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers,2 jpick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will kdevote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man lfull of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they mprayed and nlaid their hands on them.
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
