Parmenas

Parmenas (meaning: constant or that abides) was one of the seven men chosen by the Jerusalem congregation to oversee the daily distribution of food to the Hellenistic Jewish widows who had been neglected in the common meals (Acts 6:1–6). He is listed fifth among the seven in Acts 6:5. These seven men, often called the first deacons, were required to be of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom.

Beyond his selection and naming in Acts 6, no further details about Parmenas are recorded in the New Testament. His Greek name suggests he was part of the Greek-speaking Jewish community in Jerusalem, the same group whose widows had been overlooked. Early church tradition variously assigns him a subsequent ministry in various regions, but these accounts are late and non-canonical. He stands as one of the quiet servants whose faithful administration undergirded the early church's growth.