Choosing of the Seven Helpers

Acts 6:1-7, AD35. Finding seven Helpers.

As the number of the disciples kept growing one of the problems that arose was to look after the widows and young children.

The Apostles told the group to choose seven helpers. They chose a number of men. Most were non-Jews, yet all were very Godly. Some of them were to do great things for God.

Seven helpers were chosen to help to do the jobs that needed to be done so that the twelve Apostles could concentrate on prayer and teaching.

Background Reading:

Seven Men are Chosen to Help the Apostles

7:1 In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called the whole group of disciples together and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we’ll put them in charge of this work. 4 Then we’ll devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 This suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 6:1–7


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