Nicolas, Nicolaus* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

One of the seven men named in Acts 6:5, who was enlisted for service in the Jerusalem church in its early days. His duty as specified in Acts 6:1-4 was to direct the fair and equal distribution of food. Due to the use of terms in Acts 6:1 (“daily distribution” or “service”) and 6:2 (“to distribute at tables” or “to serve”), these seven men traditionally have been called “deacons” (or “servers”).

Show passage in OET: ACT 6:5

OET-RV ACT 6:5

5 This idea pleased the group, so they went ahead and chose Stefanos (a man full of faith and of the holy spirit), Filippos (Philip), Prokoros, Nikanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nikolaos (a non-Jew from Antiokeia who had previously converted to Youdaismos).

OET-LV ACT 6:5

5 And the statement brought _pleasure before all the multitude, and they _chose Stefanos, a_man full of _faith and of_the_ holy _spirit, and Filippos, and Proⱪoros, and Nikanōr, and Timōn, and Parmenas, and Nikolaos a_ from _Antioⱪeia _convert,

Show passage in OET: ACT 6:1–4

OET-RV ACT 6:1

6 However around that time when the number of Yeshua-followers were growing, some of the Greek converts starting grumbling about the Jewish believers because the Greek widows were being overlooked in the daily sharing of food and money.

OET-RV ACT 6:2

2 So the twelve missionaries assembled the believers together and told them, “We’re not pleased about having to take time off sharing the message of God to be serving here at the distribution tables.

OET-RV ACT 6:3

3 So brothers, look around you for seven men who are well known to be full of God’s spirit and wisdom, so we can appoint them to be in charge of this part of the work.

OET-RV ACT 6:4

4 Then we ourselves can continue to pray and share the message.”

OET-LV ACT 6:1

6 And in the these days multiplying the apprentices/followers, became a_grumbling of _the Hellaʸnistaʸs against the Hebraios, because the widows of _them were _being _overlooked in the the daily service.

OET-LV ACT 6:2

2 And the twelve having _called _to the multitude of _the apprentices/followers said:
It _is not pleasing us, having _left the message of_ the _god, to _be _serving unto _tables.

OET-LV ACT 6:3

3 but brothers examine, men from of _you _all being _attested, seven full of_the_spirit and wisdom, whom we _will _be _appointing over the this need.

OET-LV ACT 6:4

4 But we will _be _persevering the in _prayer and the service of _the message.

Show passage in OET: ACT 6:1

OET-RV ACT 6:1

OET-LV ACT 6:1

Show passage in OET: ACT 6:2

OET-RV ACT 6:2

OET-LV ACT 6:2

2 And the twelve having _called _to the multitude of _the apprentices/followers said:
It _is not pleasing us, having _left the message of_ the _god, to _be _serving unto _tables.

Jump to OET ACT 6:5 section.

Jump to OET ACT 6:1–4 section.

Jump to OET ACT 6:1 section.

Jump to OET ACT 6:2 section.

Nicolas, the last-named in the list, is identified as a proselyte. Thus, he was a Gentile convert to Judaism before he became a Christian. His name is Greek, and the city of Antioch is mentioned as his home. The NT writings provide no further information about him.