And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

ACTS 6:5KJV
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Acts 6:5 (KJV)

What does Acts 6:5 mean?

Acts 6:5 describes how the whole group of early Christians agreed with the proposal to appoint helpers, and they chose seven men, including Stephen—who is described as full of faith and the Holy Spirit—along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a convert from Antioch. This verse lists the first deacons selected to help serve the community.

The setting is the early church in Jerusalem, where the apostles addressed complaints about the distribution of food to widows. The apostles asked the community to choose seven trustworthy men to oversee this task, so the apostles could focus on prayer and teaching. Acts 6:5 records the community’s approval and names the chosen men, highlighting Stephen’s spiritual qualities and noting Nicolas as a non-Jewish convert.