Saints, Elders And Deacons

by R. Hyland, Rhyl, Wales | Category: General | Feb 1990

Acts chapter 16 provides us with an account of the Holy Spirit's work through Paul at Philippi. We refer briefly to some of the converts that later came to comprise the Church of God in Philippi. Lydia and her household were the first to respond to the gospel; closely followed by the jailer and his household; the demon possessed slave girl also found happy release as a new power entered her miserable life. Epaphroditus, Euodia and Syntyche, and an undisclosed number referred to as "the brethren" (v.40) were also in the group of believers gathering in that city. These saved and baptized disciples formed the nucleus of the Spirit's work through Paul and Silas, which resulted in the planting of a church of God there. Paul writes to them later from Rome and addresses them as "all the saints in Christ Jesus... with the bishops (elders) and deacons" (Phil. 1:1). This God-ordained order of government and service involving recognized overseers and deacons remains as necessary in churches of God today as it was in the Church in Philippi.

R. Hyland, Rhyl, Wales | Feb 1990
General