NO FAVORITISM
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
I come to read and reflect on Scripture today, Father, needing your Spirit to speak, to teach, to encourage, and to challenge me. I want to hear your voice.
Read ACTS 6:1–7
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Choosing of the Seven
6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Footnotes
- Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Meditate on the ‘great multitude … from every nation, tribe, people and language’ that will worship together in heaven (Revelation 7:9).The speed of the church’s growth seems to have taken even the apostles by surprise. They kept preaching as they had from the start (5:42) but found that they were increasingly distracted by the practicalities of leading such a vast movement (v. 1). As the church grew, food distribution was becoming less fair (v. 1). People were becoming Christians from different backgrounds. The Hebraic Jews spoke Aramaic and may have been more theologically and ethical- ly conservative than the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews. Already vulnerable because of their widowhood, these women were now overlooked because of prejudices and stereotypes.
We do not know much about the seven men chosen to take on the task of food distribution. Stephen and Philip we meet again later in Acts. There are various traditions attached to Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, but the only thing we know for sure is that Nicolas had converted to Judaism before becoming a Christian (v. 5). This meant that the widows now had at least one advocate from their own background in a position of leadership. Prejudice has no place in the church, whether it is in the treatment of ordinary believers or the appointment of leaders.
Apply
How do you see your church addressing diversity in backgrounds or social status, making every person feel welcome and valued?
Closing prayer
Lord, help me examine my attitudes and actions toward people who are different from me. Show me if there are places where I need to seek your forgiveness and help me to love all others with your love.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.