Who chose Stephen to serve tables?

[tonychanyt]

This happened before Paul came onto the scene. Acts 6:

2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

The Twelve set the following criteria:

1. men of good repute
2. full of the Spirit
3. full of wisdom.

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicholas, a proselyte of Antioch.

The full number of the disciples chose the seven candidates.

6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

The apostles officially appointed the Seven for church service.

In summary,

1. The apostles set the criteria.
2. The church members picked out the candidates.
3. The apostles approved their appointments.