The Acts Reading Plan

Below is the passage for this week. Consider the following question as you read it.


Why did the Apostles appoint servants within the church?

For deeper study, work through the R.E.A.P plan at the bottom


Acts 6:1-7

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 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 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

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R.E.A.P. For deeper study

Read: Read the passage. Consider reading it a few times this week in a few different versions.  The ESV will be posted here. Other versions you may consider are the NIV, and NLT.


Explore: Spend some time reflecting on what you have read. Consider the main theme, author's intent, and how it relates to the context of what else you have read in Acts. You may want to write down your thoughts to the following questions as well.

  • What does it reveal about God?
  • What does it say about people?
  • What response is it calling for?

Apply: How will you live and be different because of what you have read? Is there a truth to believe? Sin to repent of? Promise to be encouraged by? Command to follow?

Pray: Pray through the passage and your application, asking God to change your heart and to change your life, based on what you’ve read.