Does the early part of Acts contain church language about bishops, deacons, and pastors?
No. The early chapters of Acts contain no Church language concerning bishops, deacons, or pastors. Instead, the narrative presents an extension of Judaism—temple, worship, prayer at the ninth hour, and the healing of the lame man—rather than instructing how to behave in the house of God.
Les explains that throughout these early chapters, even where study Bibles may be headed the First Church or the First Christians, there is not a word of Church language. There is no mention of bishops, deacons, or pastors, and no instruction on how to behave in the house of God. Most local churches get their ideas of church government from Paul, who describes the office of the deacon, the requirements to be a pastor, and what it takes to be an elder and a deacon. Here in early Acts, Les says, you do not have that. It is just an extension of Judaism: temple, worship, prayer at the ninth hour, and now healing the lame man—not on the power of resurrection, but on the power of the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.