Deacons and Priests

In the Old Testament, they didn't have "deacons." The deacons first appear in church history, as recorded in the Book of Acts. What's fascinating is what happened in the first century. The disciples were growing as the Word was being proclaimed. New converts were joining the church. In Acts 6:7:

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

"A great many of the priests became obedient to the faith"!!

What's going on? We can understand that many Jews became obedient to the faith. However, Luke mentions that a specific group of people — namely, the priests — were becoming Christians. What was happening to the priests?

The priests saw that the first-century Christians were truly embodying the call of the priestly duties. Because Jesus Christ is the true and ultimate High Priest, the Christian Church embodies this.

Now, who were the priests?

They represented people to God. Who were the people? Poor people. Defiled people. Bent and broken people. They needed priestly ministers who could help them wash away their sins and come back to the heart of God.

Stephen, one of the first-century deacons of the church, was fulfilling the priestly duty of representing the poor. They were looking for the daily provisions. Stephen not only offered them the daily bread, but he was also able to share how Jesus Christ was the Ultimate Bread from Heaven. Jesus was the bread of life, the true manna!

Just as the manna pointed to Jesus, the temple pointed to Christ Jesus. And, the church must show the Christ who, as the ultimate priest, lived the life we should've lived and died the death that we should've died.