Don't tell me you were not trying. Nor did I say there was a Nicolaus in the the Ephesus or Pergamos synagogueic gatherings. That original question was rhetorical in nature, so you can let that rest for a while.
It is true that there were nicolaitan priestmakes in Pergamos by John's last years, and Jesus wanted them flushed out. They persistently wanted to bring the Jewish priest system to Gentile churches. They finally began to get a foothold in Antioch, when Simon Peter was there. Apoparently he was not moved to stamp them out, but encouraged them, for which he was disciplined, but not thoroughly enough. Circular argument not borne out by the scriptures or tradition
Don't accuse me of circular argumentation when you stand up to your chin in it for your hypotheses.
Deacons are not a class of priests. The scriptural type/analogy/model would be more like:
Israel => Levites => Cohenim (Priests)
with the deacons being more like Levites to assist the priests
Aside from this inaccuracy (Jewish priests by the law are descendants of Aaron, not merely Levites), but that has no meaning because the Jerusalem had no priestly government, and the Jewish system is dead, gone, as far as real Christ followers are concerned. The Apostles were not priests. And that is the point I am making. They were commissioned and engaged to enlist disciples and make every one a disciple-maker just like themselves--no more, and no less.