Parmenas is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Parmenas was one of the seven men chosen by the early church to serve as deacons in Jerusalem. He appears in the Book of Acts during a time of rapid growth in the church following Pentecost. As the number of disciples multiplied, a dispute arose between the Hellenistic Jews and the Hebraic Jews because the Hellenistic widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The twelve apostles addressed the matter by calling the multitude together and explaining that it was not fitting for them to leave the ministry of the word of God in order to serve tables.
The apostles instructed the congregation to select seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom they could appoint over this business. The saying pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. These seven were set before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
Parmenas is mentioned only once in the King James Bible, in the list of these seven chosen men. Scripture records nothing further about his background, his later ministry, or his death. What is known of him is limited to his selection as one of the first deacons, entrusted with the practical service of the church so that the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.
The Name
Parmenas is a Greek name, and its meaning is generally understood to be “abiding,” “steadfast,” or “constant.” This derivation is widely accepted and fits naturally with the character of a man chosen for faithful, ongoing service in the church. The name would have been familiar in the Hellenistic Jewish world of the first century, which aligns with the context of Acts 6, where the seven chosen men bear Greek names, reflecting the Grecian faction within the Jerusalem church.
A Closing Thought
Parmenas reminds us that not every faithful servant is named in a headline. He was chosen, prayed over, and entrusted with the quiet work of caring for widows and tables. Scripture records no sermon he preached and no miracle he performed, yet his willingness to serve where he was needed helped preserve the unity of the early church. There is a place in God’s kingdom for the unseen and the unnamed, and the hands that serve behind the scenes are just as necessary as the voices that speak from the front.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: New
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Acts 6:5 — And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: