Note 6 at Acts 6:3: The selection of these deacons was left up to the church under certain qualifications given by the apostles. The apostles prayed over them and laid hands on them, but the people selected them.

Note 7 at Acts 6:3: There were only seven deacons needed for a church that numbered in the thousands (see note 1 at Acts 6:1, p. 599) and this was in a situation where many people were totally dependent on the church for their physical needs.

Note 8 at Acts 6:3: There were three qualifications these first deacons had to meet. First, they had to be held in high regard by others. Paul expounded on this requirement in 1 Timothy 3:7 and applied it to a bishop. Second, they had be full of the Holy Ghost, and third, they had to be full of wisdom. These two requirements went hand in hand. A person cannot be full of God's wisdom without God's Spirit.