Nicholas
The Proselyte from Antioch
Nicholas was one of the seven men chosen to serve at the tables in the first church in Jerusalem. He was a proselyte from Antioch, meaning he was a Gentile who had converted to Judaism before becoming a Christian. He was chosen along with Stephen and five others to ensure the fair distribution of food to the widows in the church.
Key events
Chosen as a Servant in the Church
Nicholas was chosen as one of seven men, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to oversee the daily distribution to the widows. He was the only proselyte among the seven.
1In those days, as the number of disciples kept growing, the Greek-speaking Jews began to complain against the Hebrews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν.
2So the Twelve called the whole company of disciples together and said, "It is not right for us to abandon the word of God in order to wait on tables.
προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν εἶπαν· Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ διακονεῖν τραπέζαις·
3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are well respected and full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this task,
ἐπισκέψασθε ⸀δέ, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτὰ πλήρεις ⸀πνεύματος καὶ σοφίας, οὓς ⸀καταστήσομεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης·
4while we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν.
5This proposal pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.
καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους, καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα ⸀πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Πρόχορον καὶ Νικάνορα καὶ Τίμωνα καὶ Παρμενᾶν καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα,
6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων, καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας.
Appointed through Prayer and Laying on of Hands
The apostles prayed and laid their hands on the seven chosen servants, including Nicholas, and set them apart for service in the church.
6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων, καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας.