Bible verses about "deacons" | Williams

¹ Now I introduce to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess in the church at Cenchreae,

¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaint was 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 together the whole body of the disciples, and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave off preaching the word of God to wait on tables. ³ So, brothers, you must select from your number seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit, and of good practical sense, and we will assign them to this business, ⁴ while we will go on devoting ourselves to prayer and the word of God." ⁵ This suggestion was approved by the whole body, and so they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who was a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, and after they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them. ⁷ So God's message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly; a large number, even of priests, continued to surrender to the faith. ⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, went on performing great 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, got to debating with Stephen, ¹⁰ but they could not cope with his good practical sense and the spiritual power with which he usually spoke. ¹¹ So they instigated men to say, "We have heard him speaking abusive words against Moses and God." ¹² By this means they excited the people, the elders, and the scribes, and so they rushed upon him, seized him, and brought him before the council. ¹³ Then they put up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops 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 which Moses handed down to us." ¹⁵ Then all who were seated in the council fixed their eyes upon him and saw that his face was like that of an angel.

²⁸ Take care of yourselves and of the whole flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, so as to continue to be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.

¹ This is a saying to be trusted: "Whoever aspires to the office of pastor desires an excellent work." ² So the pastor must be a man above reproach, must have only one wife, must be temperate, sensible, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful in teaching; ³ not addicted to strong drink, not pugnacious, gentle and not contentious, not avaricious, ⁴ managing his own house well, with perfect seriousness keeping his children under control ⁵ (if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how can he take care of a church of God?). ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or else becoming conceited he may incur the doom the devil met. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, or else he may incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. ⁸ Deacons, too, must be serious, sincere in their talk, not addicted to strong drink or dishonest gain, ⁹ but they must continue to hold the open secret of faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They, too, should first be tested till approved, and then, if they are found above reproach, they should serve as deacons. ¹¹ The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² A deacon too must have only one wife, and manage his children and household well. ¹³ For those who render good service win a good standing for themselves in their faith in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Deacons, too, must be serious, sincere in their talk, not addicted to strong drink or dishonest gain,

⁶ each elder must be above reproach, have only one wife, and his children must not be liable to the charge of profligacy or disobedience. ⁷ For as God's trustee a pastor must be above reproach, not stubborn or quick-tempered or addicted to strong drink or pugnacious or addicted to dishonest gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of goodness, sensible, upright, of pure life, self-controlled, ⁹ and a man who continues to cling to the trustworthy message as he was taught it, so that he may be competent to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to convict those who oppose him.

² So the pastor must be a man above reproach, must have only one wife, must be temperate, sensible, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful in teaching;

²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must continue to follow me, and my servant also must go wherever I go. If anyone serves me, my Father will show him honor.

¹ This is a saying to be trusted: "Whoever aspires to the office of pastor desires an excellent work." ² So the pastor must be a man above reproach, must have only one wife, must be temperate, sensible, well-behaved, hospitable, skillful in teaching; ³ not addicted to strong drink, not pugnacious, gentle and not contentious, not avaricious, ⁴ managing his own house well, with perfect seriousness keeping his children under control ⁵ (if a man does not know how to manage his own house, how can he take care of a church of God?). ⁶ He must not be a new convert, or else becoming conceited he may incur the doom the devil met. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, or else he may incur reproach and fall into the devil's trap. ⁸ Deacons, too, must be serious, sincere in their talk, not addicted to strong drink or dishonest gain, ⁹ but they must continue to hold the open secret of faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They, too, should first be tested till approved, and then, if they are found above reproach, they should serve as deacons. ¹¹ The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² A deacon too must have only one wife, and manage his children and household well. ¹³ For those who render good service win a good standing for themselves in their faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Though I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you this, ¹⁵ so that, if I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Undoubtedly the mystery of our religion is a great wonder: "He was made visible in human form; He was vindicated by the Spirit; He was seen by angels; He was proclaimed among the heathen; He was trusted in throughout the world; He was taken up to glory."

¹ Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all God's people in union with Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and assistants:

¹¹ The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² A deacon too must have only one wife, and manage his children and household well.

¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was increasing, complaint was 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 together the whole body of the disciples, and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave off preaching the word of God to wait on tables. ³ So, brothers, you must select from your number seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit, and of good practical sense, and we will assign them to this business, ⁴ while we will go on devoting ourselves to prayer and the word of God." ⁵ This suggestion was approved by the whole body, and so they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorus, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, who was a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, and after they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.

⁸ Deacons, too, must be serious, sincere in their talk, not addicted to strong drink or dishonest gain, ⁹ but they must continue to hold the open secret of faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They, too, should first be tested till approved, and then, if they are found above reproach, they should serve as deacons. ¹¹ The deaconesses too must be serious, not gossips; they must be temperate and perfectly trustworthy. ¹² A deacon too must have only one wife, and manage his children and household well. ¹³ For those who render good service win a good standing for themselves in their faith in Christ Jesus.