Acts 6:6

Whom they set before the apostles. There has been some discussion whether these seven were deacons, and whether this is the origin of the deacon's office in the church. They are never called deacons, but the Greek word "diakoneo", rendered "to serve" (Ac 6:2), is the verb form of which the Greek word "diakonos", "deacon", is the noun. The usual view is that they were deacons.

And when they had prayed, they laid [their] hands on them. The scriptural method of inducting into office. The prayer and imposition of hands was an appeal to God to give the necessary gifts rather than their impartation. See Nu 27:23 Ge 48:13.
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