Bible verses about "deacons" | Twentieth_Century

¹ I commend to your care our Sister, Phoebe, who helps in the work of the Church at Cenchreae;

¹ About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Jews of foreign birth against the native Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. ² The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them: "It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God's Message. ³ Therefore, Brothers, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter; ⁴ While we, for our part, will devote ourselves to Prayer, and to the delivery of the Message." ⁵ This proposal was unanimously agreed to; and the disciples chose Stephen--a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit--and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism; ⁶ And they brought these men to the Apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them. ⁷ So God's Message spread, and the number of the disciples continued to increase rapidly in Jerusalem, and a large body of the priests accepted the Faith. ⁸ Meanwhile Stephen, divinely helped and strengthened, was showing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But some members of the Synagogue known as that of Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and Visitors from Cilicia and Roman Asia, were roused to action and began disputing with Stephen; ¹⁰ Yet they were quite unable to withstand the wisdom and the inspiration with which he spoke. ¹¹ Then they induced some men to assert that they had heard Stephen saying blasphemous things against Moses, and against God; ¹² And they stirred up the people, as well as the Councillors and the Teachers of the Law, and set upon Stephen, and arrested him, and brought him before the High Council. ¹³ There they produced witnesses who gave false evidence. "This man," they said, "is incessantly saying things against this Holy Place and the Law; ¹⁴ Indeed, we have heard him declare that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this Place, and change the customs handed down to us by Moses." ¹⁵ The eyes of all the members of the Council were riveted upon Stephen, and they saw his face looking like the face of an angel.

²⁸ Be watchful over yourselves, and over the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has placed you in charge, to shepherd the Church of God, which he won for himself at the cost of his life.

¹ How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is ambitious for a noble task. ² The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skillful teacher, ³ not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money; ⁴ he should be a man who rules his own household well, and whose children are kept under control and are well-behaved. ⁵ If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God? ⁶ The Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he may not be blinded by pride and fall under the same condemnation as the Devil. ⁷ He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil. ⁸ So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making, ⁹ but men who hold the deep truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them. ¹¹ It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. ¹² Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well. ¹³ Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honorable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.

⁸ So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making,

⁶ They are to be men of irreproachable character, who are faithful husbands, whose children are Christians and have never been charged with dissolute conduct or have been unruly. ⁷ For a Presiding-Officer, as God's steward, ought to be a man of irreproachable character; not self-willed or quick-tempered, nor addicted to drink or to brawling or to questionable money-making. ⁸ On the contrary, he should be hospitable, eager for the right discreet, upright, a man of holy life and capable of self-restraint, ⁹ who holds doctrine that can be relied on as being in accordance with the accepted Teaching; so that he may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute our opponents.

² The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skillful teacher,

²⁶ If a man is ready to serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant shall be also. If a man is ready to serve me, my Father will honor him.

¹ How true is that saying! When a man aspires to be a Presiding-Officer in the Church, he is ambitious for a noble task. ² The Presiding-Officer should be a man of blameless character; a faithful husband; living a temperate, discreet, and well-ordered life; hospitable, and a skillful teacher, ³ not addicted to drink or brawling, but of a forbearing and peaceable disposition, and not a lover of money; ⁴ he should be a man who rules his own household well, and whose children are kept under control and are well-behaved. ⁵ If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God? ⁶ The Presiding-Officer should not be a recent convert, that he may not be blinded by pride and fall under the same condemnation as the Devil. ⁷ He should also be well spoken of by outsiders, that he may not incur censure and so fall into the snares of the Devil. ⁸ So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making, ⁹ but men who hold the deep truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them. ¹¹ It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. ¹² Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well. ¹³ Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honorable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ I am writing this to you, though I hope that I shall come to see you before long; ¹⁵ but in case I should be delayed, I want you to know what your conduct ought to be in the Household of God, which is the Church of the Living God--the pillar and stay of the Truth. ¹⁶ Yes, and confessedly wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for-- 'He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.'

¹ To all Christ's People at Philippi, with the Presiding Officers and Assistants, from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

¹¹ It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. ¹² Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well.

¹ About this time, when the number of the disciples was constantly increasing, complaints were made by the Jews of foreign birth against the native Jews, that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. ² The Twelve, therefore, called together the general body of the disciples and said to them: "It is not well for us to see to the distribution at the tables and neglect God's Message. ³ Therefore, Brothers, look for seven men of reputation among yourselves, wise and spiritually-minded men, and we will appoint them to attend to this matter; ⁴ While we, for our part, will devote ourselves to Prayer, and to the delivery of the Message." ⁵ This proposal was unanimously agreed to; and the disciples chose Stephen--a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit--and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a former convert to Judaism; ⁶ And they brought these men to the Apostles, who, after praying, placed their hands on them.

⁸ So, too, Assistant-Officers should be serious and straightforward men, not given to taking much drink or to questionable money-making, ⁹ but men who hold the deep truths of the Faith and have a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They should be tested first, and only appointed to their Office if no objection is raised against them. ¹¹ It should be the same with the women. They should be serious, not gossips, sober, and trustworthy in all respects. ¹² Assistant-Officers should be faithful husbands, and men who rule their children and their households well. ¹³ Those who have filled that post with honour gain for themselves an honorable position, as well as great confidence through the faith that they place in Christ Jesus.