2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 ^mTherefore, brothers,¹ pick out from among you seven men ⁿof good repute, ^ofull of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But ^pwe will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

7 And ^wthe word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^xbecame obedient to ^ythe faith.