Reading: What We Can Learn From the Ordination of Early Deacons (Slides)

What We Can Learn From the Ordination of Early Deacons

By Henry Reyenga

The First Seven Deacons

Acts 6:5     This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 

Stephen

Stephen - A man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 

Preached Christ fearlessly

Proclaimed Christ boldly to the leaders of the Jews. 

Acts 7:59-60; 8:1    While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”   Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

Philip 

Philip the Evangelist - One of the seventy; preached; performed miracles in Samaria; witnessed to the Ethiopian eunuch, which started the Ethiopian church. Later in his life, he lived in Caesarea Maritima where he raised up four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21).

Prochorus and Nicanor

Prochorus – Tradition: Nephew of Stephen, one of the seventy from Luke 10, and started out as a deacon, later ordained to be the Bishop of Nicomedia in northern Turkey of today.

Nicanor – Great early leader who suffered martyrdom in 78 AD.

Timon and Parmenas

Timon – Hellenized Jew; evangelist; became a Bishop in Bosra, Syria; he preached and brought upon himself the condemnation of a local governor who put him to death with fire.

Parmenas - Evangelist in Asia Minor; became a Bishop of Soli; suffered martyrdom in 98 AD, under the persecution of Trajan. 

Nicolas

Nicolas – Native of Antioch and convert to Judaism; jealous of his beautiful wife and reproved by the apostles; got into wife sharing, and then was given to all sorts of immorality. 

The Nicolaitanes are the followers of that Nicolas who was one of the seven first ordained to the diaconate by the apostles. They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

—Irenaeus, Adversus haereses, i. 26, §3

Implications

1.  Deacon minister roles  

What starts as a simple ordination as a deacon, a servant steward opens up into many powerful examples of ministry. 

Many denominations have a license first. Then ordination after several years.  CLI now encourages the license period to begin right away as you explore your ministry calling in your studies

Concluding Comments

2.  Preparation for later leadership

Often leaders start out as a deacon and then progress to more responsibilities.

Concluding Comments

3.  Spiritual attack will test deacon ministers and your study at CLI. 

The story of the life of Nicolas is a warning to every deacon minister. 

Revelations 2:15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.