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158 Bible verses about Visiting the Sick
Jesus spent so much of his ministry healing the sick. Matthew 4:24 talks about how people brought him everyone who was hurting—"those suffering from different kinds of diseases and pains, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and he healed them." When we visit someone who’s sick, we’re following Jesus’s example. We’re showing compassion and offering support during a really tough time.
Think about it: when you visit someone who's ill, you're putting yourself in their shoes. You're sharing in their pain and suffering. That empathy helps you understand what they need and offer comfort. You can pray for their healing and well-being. Prayer is such a powerful way to connect with God and find hope, especially when things are hard.
People who are struggling with their health often feel isolated and discouraged. Your visit shows them they’re not alone and that you care. Sometimes just a kind word or a caring gesture can make all the difference in their day.
Visiting the sick also gives you a beautiful chance to share God's love. You can talk about the hope you find in Christ and offer spiritual comfort.
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.
He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.
Yes, I will restore you to health. I will heal your wounds. I, the Lord, affirm it! For you have been called an outcast, Zion, whom no one cares for.”
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them.
When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Lord, grant me relief from my suffering so that I may have some relief. Rescue me from those who persecute me so that I may be rescued.
When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country – Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him.
Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Joash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, “My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!”
King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians in Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. King Ahaziah son of Jehoram of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, for he was ill.
He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!”By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity; you allow me permanent access to your presence.The Lord God of Israel deserves praise in the future and forevermore! We agree! We agree!May the Lord protect him and save his life! May he be blessed in the land! Do not turn him over to his enemies!The Lord supports him on his sickbed; you completely heal him from his illness.
As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind.So he answered them, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them.
But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!”Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong.He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.
He said, “If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer.”
So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them.
As the sun was setting, all those who had any relatives sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus. He placed his hands on every one of them and healed them.
They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.Let those delivered by the Lord speak out, those whom he delivered from the power of the enemy,He sent them an assuring word and healed them; he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped.
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room.Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Come to us without delay.”So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them.He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.
(Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.
who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”
You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns.I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk,then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful.That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.“I have come to bring fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled!But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.
The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,
And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’
Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone.She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once the bleeding stopped.
When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.
When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.
Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them.As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.
The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him.
Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.
But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.For she kept saying to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.”But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail! Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord – how long will this continue?
“Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go up to the Lord’s temple.
Praise the Lord, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds!Praise the Lord, you angels of his, you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees and obey his orders!Praise the Lord, all you warriors of his, you servants of his who carry out his desires!Praise the Lord, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom! Praise the Lord, O my soul!He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.He called a child, had him stand among them,For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.
For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the salesand placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need.
As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance,raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went along, they were cleansed.
If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.
Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all.
When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, “Do you want to become well?”The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.”Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.”Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)
So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
He sent them an assuring word and healed them; he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.
God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands,so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,
And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.
For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Throw your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.
and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,
with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.
For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body – though many – are one body, so too is Christ.For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit.
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.
The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.
Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
O God, hear my cry for help! Pay attention to my prayer!From the most remote place on earth I call out to you in my despair. Lead me up to an inaccessible rocky summit!
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead.Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side.So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him.He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service.
Then Jesus called the disciples and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.”
I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come?My help comes from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth!
But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
They cried out to the Lord in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.He brought them out of the utter darkness, and tore off their shackles.
Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them.When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’“For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen.And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage,So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening).while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.
I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me! O Lord, hurry and help me!May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be humiliated and disgraced!May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May the Lord be praised!”I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
In my distress I cried out to the Lord. The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’ You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”
Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”
And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.
he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague.He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.
not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.
Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus,so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.
For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.”
Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’
When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.
We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.
Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone.She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once the bleeding stopped.Then Jesus asked, “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!”But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.”When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed.Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”
And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror.For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.
The Lord says, “Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me.When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.
I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!
For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.They brought forward false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law.For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”