Bible verses about "deacons" | Goodspeed

¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve called in the whole body of disciples and said to them, "It is not desirable that we should give up preaching the word of God to keep accounts. ³ You, brothers, must pick out from your number seven men of good standing, who are wise and full of the Spirit, and we will put them in charge of this matter, ⁴ while we devote ourselves to prayer and to delivering the message." ⁵ This plan met the approval of the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who had been a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They brought these men before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. ⁷ So God's message continued to spread; the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a great many priests accepted the faith. ⁸ Stephen, greatly strengthened by God's favor, did remarkable signs and wonders among the people. ⁹ But members of the synagogue known as that of the Libyans, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia undertook to debate with Stephen, ¹⁰ but they could not meet his wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke. ¹¹ So they instigated people to say, "We have heard him use abusive language about Moses and about God." ¹² They aroused the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they set upon him and seized him, and brought him before the council. ¹³ Then they brought forward false witnesses, who said, "This man is constantly saying things against this holy place and against the Law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will tear this place down and change the customs that have been handed down to us by Moses." ¹⁵ Everyone who sat in the council fixed his eyes on him, and they saw that his face was like that of an angel.

¹ I want to introduce to you our sister Phoebe, who is a helper in the church at Cenchreae.

²⁸ Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the holy Spirit has made you guardians, and be shepherds of the church of God, which he got at the cost of his own life.

¹ This is a trustworthy saying. Whoever aspires to the office of superintendent sets his heart on a fine work. ² A superintendent must be a man above reproach, only once married, temperate, sensible, a man of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not addicted to drink or pugnacious, but a man of moderation and peace, not avaricious, ⁴ managing his own house well, and keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful— ⁵ for if a man does not know how to conduct his own household, how can he look after a church of God? ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or he may grow conceited and incur criticism from slanderous people. ⁷ He must also be a man of good standing with outsiders, or he may get into disgrace and be entrapped by the slanderers. ⁸ Assistants, in turn, must be serious, straightforward men, not addicted to wine or dishonest gain, ⁹ but holding the divine truth of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should first be tested, and afterward, if there is no fault to be found with them, they can serve as assistants. ¹¹ Their wives too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate, and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² The assistants must be only once married, and manage their children and their households well. ¹³ For those who do good service as assistants gain a good standing for themselves and great confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Assistants, in turn, must be serious, straightforward men, not addicted to wine or dishonest gain,

⁶ men of irreproachable character, who have been married only once, whose children are Christians, free from any suspicion of profligacy or disobedience. ⁷ For as God's overseer a superintendent must be irreproachable, not arrogant or quick-tempered or given to drink or pugnacious or addicted to dishonest gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sensible, upright, of holy life, self-controlled, ⁹ standing by the message that can be relied on, just as he was taught it, so that he may be qualified both to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to show the error of those who oppose him.

² A superintendent must be a man above reproach, only once married, temperate, sensible, a man of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and wherever I am found, my servant must be also. If anyone serves me, my Father will show him honor.

¹ This is a trustworthy saying. Whoever aspires to the office of superintendent sets his heart on a fine work. ² A superintendent must be a man above reproach, only once married, temperate, sensible, a man of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not addicted to drink or pugnacious, but a man of moderation and peace, not avaricious, ⁴ managing his own house well, and keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful— ⁵ for if a man does not know how to conduct his own household, how can he look after a church of God? ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or he may grow conceited and incur criticism from slanderous people. ⁷ He must also be a man of good standing with outsiders, or he may get into disgrace and be entrapped by the slanderers. ⁸ Assistants, in turn, must be serious, straightforward men, not addicted to wine or dishonest gain, ⁹ but holding the divine truth of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should first be tested, and afterward, if there is no fault to be found with them, they can serve as assistants. ¹¹ Their wives too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate, and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² The assistants must be only once married, and manage their children and their households well. ¹³ For those who do good service as assistants gain a good standing for themselves and great confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing you all this ¹⁵ so that if I am delayed, you may know how we are to conduct ourselves in the household of God, for it is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ No one can deny the profundity of the divine truth of our religion! "He was revealed in flesh, He was vindicated by the Spirit, He was seen by the angels, He was proclaimed among the heathen, He was believed in throughout the world, He was taken up into glory."

¹ Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the devoted adherents of Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the superintendents and assistants;

¹¹ Their wives too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate, and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² The assistants must be only once married, and manage their children and their households well.

¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve called in the whole body of disciples and said to them, "It is not desirable that we should give up preaching the word of God to keep accounts. ³ You, brothers, must pick out from your number seven men of good standing, who are wise and full of the Spirit, and we will put them in charge of this matter, ⁴ while we devote ourselves to prayer and to delivering the message." ⁵ This plan met the approval of the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who had been a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They brought these men before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.

⁸ Assistants, in turn, must be serious, straightforward men, not addicted to wine or dishonest gain, ⁹ but holding the divine truth of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should first be tested, and afterward, if there is no fault to be found with them, they can serve as assistants. ¹¹ Their wives too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate, and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² The assistants must be only once married, and manage their children and their households well. ¹³ For those who do good service as assistants gain a good standing for themselves and great confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.