Acts 14:23
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes that the people were actively involved in choosing their leaders, as indicated by the Greek word for "appointed," which literally means "to stretch out the hand," suggesting a vote. This wasn't just a top-down decree; it was a communal act of selecting those who would lead and shepherd the flock.
As Paul and Barnabas continue their journey, they establish leadership in the newly formed churches throughout the region. After appointing elders in each community, they entrust these leaders and the congregations to God's care through prayer and fasting before moving on. This marks a crucial step in organizing the early church and ensuring its ongoing spiritual health in the apostles' absence.
The word for 'appointed' here isn't just about a top-down decision. It involves the community!
The Greek word used for 'appointed' (χειροτονήσαντες - cheirotonēsantes) literally means 'to stretch out the hand.' In the ancient world, this was a common way people voted or showed approval for a choice.
This means Paul and Barnabas likely weren't just dictating who should be elders. They were presiding over a process where the church members themselves had a say, perhaps by raising their hands to signify their agreement or choice.
This highlights an important principle: leadership in the church isn't solely an apostolic appointment, but involves the participation and affirmation of the community being led. The elders were chosen 'for them' – for the people they would serve.
Before sending leaders out, Paul and Barnabas didn't just hand over a manual. They prayed.
The appointment of elders wasn't just a procedural step; it was a sacred act deeply rooted in spiritual discipline. The text explicitly mentions that after the appointment, they 'prayed with fasting.'
This wasn't a mere formality. Prayer is the direct communication with God, seeking His wisdom, guidance, and empowerment for the new leaders. Fasting, in this context, served to intensify their prayer, setting aside physical needs to focus entirely on the spiritual task at hand.
It underscores that effective leadership, especially spiritual leadership, is not built on human capability alone but on divine enablement. This act of prayer and fasting was a commitment of both the leaders and the community to the Lord's care.
After appointing leaders and praying, the ultimate security wasn't in the men chosen, but in the God they served.
The final action in this passage is crucial: 'they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.' This wasn't a passive act but a profound expression of trust.
The apostles, having done all they could by appointing and praying, handed over the spiritual well-being of these new churches and their leaders to the ultimate guardianship of Jesus Christ. They recognized that human efforts are insufficient without divine protection and guidance.
Understand the original words
presbyteros · Greek Noun
A senior leader or overseer in the early church, responsible for the spiritual guidance, doctrine, and governance of the local congregation.
ekklēsia · Greek Noun
A religious assembly or the gathering of the people of God; it refers to a local community of believers and, by extension, the universal body of Christ.
nēsteia · Greek Noun
The act of abstaining from food for spiritual purposes, often accompanied by prayer, to express dependence on God, seek His guidance, and humble oneself.
paratithēmi · Greek Verb
To entrust, place in the care of, or deliver someone or something into the protection or authority of another; often used of entrusting believers to God’s grace.
The appointment of elders in every church during Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey highlights the immediate need for established leadership structures in new Gentile communities, drawing from synagogue models rather than solely Temple traditions.
c. AD 47-48
First Missionary Journey Begins
Paul and Barnabas, commissioned by the church in Antioch, set out on their first major missionary journey through Cyprus and Asia Minor.
c. AD 48
Establishment of Churches in Asia Minor
During their journey, Paul and Barnabas evangelize cities like Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, leading to the formation of new Christian communities.
c. AD 48— this verse
Appointment of Elders
As they prepare to leave the newly formed churches, Paul and Barnabas appoint elders (or presbyters) in each congregation to provide leadership and oversight.
c. AD 48
Prayer and Commendation
Following the appointment of elders, Paul and Barnabas engage in prayer and fasting, entrusting both the leaders and the churches to the Lord's care.
This passage speaks of appointing elders through prophecy and the laying on of hands by the presbytery, highlighting the spiritual and communal aspect of appointing church leaders, similar to the prayer and fasting in Acts 14.
Titus 1:5Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in every town, echoing the practice in Acts 14 where elders were appointed in every church planted by Paul and Barnabas, showing this was a foundational practice for establishing the church.
When Paul calls for the elders from Ephesus, he refers to them as overseers (bishops), demonstrating the continuity of leadership structure and the serious responsibility entrusted to those appointed, as seen in Acts 14.
This verse mentions 'the overseers and deacons,' showing that the early church leadership included 'elders' (overseers) and that they were a recognized part of the church's structure from early on.
ellicottActs 14:23: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."
(23) And when they had ordained them elders. —The word for “ordained” occurs in the New Testament here and in 2Corinthians 8:19 , where it is translated “chosen,” and certainly seems to imply popular election (election by show of hands), which is, indeed, the natural meaning of the word. In Acts 10:41 a compound form of the verb is translated…
barnesActs 14:23: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."
And widen they had ordained - χειροτονήσαντες cheirotonēsantes. The word "ordain" we now use in an ecclesiastical sense, to denote "a setting apart to an office by the imposition of hands." But it is evident that the word here is not employed in that sense. That imposition of hands might have occurred in setting apart afterward to this off…
The text emphasizes that the people were actively involved in choosing their leaders, as indicated by the Greek word for "appointed," which literally means "to stretch out the hand," suggesting a vote. This wasn't just a top-down decree; it was a communal act of selecting those who would lead and shepherd the flock.
As Paul and Barnabas continue their journey, they establish leadership in the newly formed churches throughout the region. After appointing elders in each community, they entrust these leaders and the congregations to God's care through prayer and fasting before moving on. This marks a crucial step in organizing the early church and ensuring its ongoing spiritual health in the apostles' absence.
As Paul and Barnabas continue their journey, they establish leadership in the newly formed churches throughout the region. After appointing elders in each community, they entrust these leaders and the congregations to God's care through prayer and fasting before moving on. This marks a crucial step in organizing the early church and ensuring its ongoing spiritual health in the apostles' absence.
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This act speaks volumes about the nature of faith. It’s not just about believing in the Lord for salvation, but believing on Him to sustain, guide, and protect those He calls. It reminds us that true security for the church and its leaders rests entirely in God’s capable hands.
c. AD 49
First Missionary Journey Ends
Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, reporting to the church all that God had done through them and the doors He had opened to the Gentiles.
"And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed." — The text emphasizes that the people were actively involved in choosing their leaders, as indicated by the Greek word for "appointed," which literally means "to stretch out the hand," suggesting a v…
