Bible verses about "deacons" | Riverside

¹ IN those days, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began to grumble at the Hebrew Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service. ² Then the twelve called the body of disciples together and said, "We do not wish to leave the message of God and wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, pick out seven men from among you, men of reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to look after this need. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the message." ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole body. So 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 proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ These they presented before the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands upon them. ⁷ The message of God continued to spread and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and even a great body of the priests were obedient to the faith. ⁸ Stephen, full of grace and of power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But certain persons from what was called the synagogue of the Libyans and Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen; ¹⁰ yet they could not hold their own against the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. ¹¹ Then they got some men to say, "We have heard him speaking profane words against Moses and against God." ¹² They excited the people and the elders and the scribes, and coming suddenly upon Stephen they arrested him and led him to the Council. ¹³ There they put forward false witnesses who said, "This man never ceases saying things against this holy place and the law. ¹⁴ We have heard him say that this Jesus, the Nazarene, will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed down to us." ¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Council as they looked at him saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

¹ I COMMEND to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae,

²⁸ "Be watchful of yourselves and of all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers. Shepherd the church of God which he bought with his own blood.

¹ THE saying is trustworthy: "If any one aspires to the office of a bishop, he desires a noble work." ² A bishop, then, should be above reproach, true to one woman, temperate, self-controlled, dignified, hospitable, with a gift for teaching, ³ not given to wine or to blows, but fair-minded, averse to strife, not a lover of money, ⁴ presiding well over his own house, with children obedient and respectful. ⁵ But if any one does not know how to preside over his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? ⁶ He must not be a new convert, for fear he may be blinded by pride and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. ⁷ He must have a good reputation with outsiders so as not to fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil. ⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not eager for base gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested, and then let them fill the office of deacon if there is nothing against them. ¹¹ Women, in the same way, must be dignified, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything. ¹² Deacons must be men true to one woman, presiding well over their children and their own houses. ¹³ Those who have filled the office of deacon well win for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not eager for base gain,

⁶ wherever there is a man of irreproachable character, true to one woman, with believing children who are not charged with dissolute conduct and not unruly. ⁷ For a bishop, as God's steward, must be above reproach, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not given to blows, not eager for base gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, just, holy, temperate, ⁹ holding to the trustworthy message which is according to the teaching, so that he may be able also to encourage others by wholesome teaching and to refute opposers.

² A bishop, then, should be above reproach, true to one woman, temperate, self-controlled, dignified, hospitable, with a gift for teaching,

²⁶ If any one is serving me, let him follow me and where I am there my servant shall be. If any one is serving me, him my Father will honor.

¹ THE saying is trustworthy: "If any one aspires to the office of a bishop, he desires a noble work." ² A bishop, then, should be above reproach, true to one woman, temperate, self-controlled, dignified, hospitable, with a gift for teaching, ³ not given to wine or to blows, but fair-minded, averse to strife, not a lover of money, ⁴ presiding well over his own house, with children obedient and respectful. ⁵ But if any one does not know how to preside over his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? ⁶ He must not be a new convert, for fear he may be blinded by pride and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. ⁷ He must have a good reputation with outsiders so as not to fall into reproach and the snare of the Devil. ⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not eager for base gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested, and then let them fill the office of deacon if there is nothing against them. ¹¹ Women, in the same way, must be dignified, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything. ¹² Deacons must be men true to one woman, presiding well over their children and their own houses. ¹³ Those who have filled the office of deacon well win for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, although I hope to come to you soon, ¹⁵ but so that if I am delayed you may know how people should conduct themselves in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth. ¹⁶ Confessedly great is the mystery of godliness: "Who was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."

¹ PAUL and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the Holy in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with Bishops and Deacons:

¹¹ Women, in the same way, must be dignified, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything. ¹² Deacons must be men true to one woman, presiding well over their children and their own houses.

¹ IN those days, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Greek-speaking Jews began to grumble at the Hebrew Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service. ² Then the twelve called the body of disciples together and said, "We do not wish to leave the message of God and wait on tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, pick out seven men from among you, men of reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to look after this need. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the message." ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole body. So 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 proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ These they presented before the apostles, who after prayer laid their hands upon them.

⁸ Deacons, in the same way, must be dignified, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not eager for base gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested, and then let them fill the office of deacon if there is nothing against them. ¹¹ Women, in the same way, must be dignified, not slanderers, temperate, trustworthy in everything. ¹² Deacons must be men true to one woman, presiding well over their children and their own houses. ¹³ Those who have filled the office of deacon well win for themselves a high standing and great boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.