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.

Where else these words appear

“proselyte” Greek G4339 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
  • Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
  • Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

“Stephen” Greek G4736 · used in 7 verses

  • Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
  • Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
  • Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

“pleased” Greek G700 · used in 16 verses

  • Matthew 14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
  • Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
  • Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

“full” Greek G4134 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
  • Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
  • Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,