It is estimated that there were around 8,000 priests and 10,000 Levites in Jerusalem at the time of the New Testament. The conversion of a large number of priests would have been a matter of great rejoicing to the Christian community.1 It would have demonstrated to the believers that faith in Jesus Christ was not in conflict with the teaching of the Old Testament.
7 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.