Why did "a great number of priests" become obedient to the faith? “So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Immediate Setting • The apostles had just resolved the complaint over neglected widows by appointing seven Spirit-filled men (Acts 6:1-6). • This freed the apostles “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). • With the word now proclaimed unhindered, an unprecedented harvest followed—reaching even those long identified with the Temple system. Who These Priests Were • Members of the Levitical priesthood serving in the Temple. • Many belonged to the ordinary “courses” (1 Chron 24) rather than the ruling Sadducean elite. • They knew the Law, the sacrificial system, and the prophetic promises firsthand—so they could quickly recognize their fulfillment in Jesus. Why So Many Priests Responded • Clear, uncompromised preaching of Scripture – Peter, John, and the Twelve consistently expounded Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets (Acts 3:18, 24; 5:42). – The priests heard their own Scriptures tied directly to the risen Messiah. • Undeniable apostolic miracles – “Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43). – A healed beggar stood daily in the Temple courts as living proof (Acts 3:1-10). • Holy Spirit conviction – Jesus promised, “He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). – The same Spirit who filled the apostles (Acts 4:31) convicted priestly hearts listening nearby. • Fulfillment of sacrificial symbolism – Daily offerings pointed to “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). – Isaiah 53; Psalm 110; and Daniel 9 spoke of a suffering, atoning Messiah—truths the priests knew yet now saw personified in Jesus. • Witness of transformed lives – The early believers’ generous unity (Acts 4:32-35) stood in stark contrast to the corruption many priests observed among the Temple aristocracy (Mark 11:15-17). • Shift in duties and identity – Hebrews later explains that Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice ended the need for repetitive animal offerings (Hebrews 7:27; 10:11-14). – Priests who believed stepped into their intended role as “a kingdom of priests” under the New Covenant (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). • Expanded access to Scripture – Scrolls were normally read only within priestly circles. As the church taught openly in Solomon’s Portico (Acts 5:12), common worshipers—and priests—heard expositional teaching previously reserved for the synagogue. Scriptural Threads They Connected • Jeremiah 31:31-34—promise of a New Covenant with sin forgiven. • Psalm 110:4—Messiah as eternal Priest. • Isaiah 53—Servant bearing iniquities. • Daniel 9:26—Anointed One cut off, then everlasting righteousness. Seeing each strand tied directly to Jesus compelled them to “become obedient to the faith.” Outcome of Their Obedience • Authority within the Temple now testified to Christ, opening further doors for the gospel. • The credibility of the church increased; even insiders to the sacrificial system affirmed that Jesus fulfilled it. • The missionary wave that would soon reach Samaria and the Gentile world (Acts 8–11) gained momentum from this solid core of biblically grounded believers. Takeaway for Believers Today • Faithful proclamation of the unaltered Word still penetrates resistant hearts. • Pointing people to fulfilled prophecy underscores the reliability of Scripture. • Consistent godly living and Spirit-empowered witness validate the message. • When God’s people handle practical concerns wisely (Acts 6:1-6), the gospel advances unhindered—often reaching unexpected groups, just as many priests once discovered the joy of obedience to the faith. |
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