We often think of religious leaders as unable to change. We think they believe they know it all, have the answers already, cannot alter their presumably doctrinaire convictions.
So refreshing, then, this priestly cameo in one of Luke’s summary reports of growth in the early, Jerusalem-based Jesus Movement.
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. (Acts 6:7 ESV)
Luke seems not to be going anywhere with this observation. He has no agenda on this front. There is no subsequent re-take on priestly influence at the core. After this, Jerusalem’s priests are largely left alone to live their lives unobserved.
Luke simply calls this detail as he sees it. Presumably, it brought Luke some cheer to record that those most charged with nurturing the spiritual dynamic of the Jewish heartland in the aftermath of Jesus’ execution and alleged resurrection were able to respond to this great new announcement, this ‘gospel’ of a new but long-awaited kingdom.
Cameos are tips of an iceberg. For a moment, we see a passing figure and we know that there is far more to that life than we are in position to tell or to know just now.
A cameo like this one is a beautiful thing.
Luke knows some things about the persuasive power of his movement’s vigorous new announcement about Jesus being alive again. He has little time for ‘least likely’ categorizations. A great many priests, after all, had come into faith.
Canter Bridge 
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