Acts 14:23

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul and Barnabas are concluding their first missionary journey, having just strengthened disciples facing persecution. They pause to organize local leadership before moving into the next region.

The words — χειροτονήσαντες (cheirotonēsantes) means “having chosen” or “appointing,” and πρεσβυτέρους (presbuterous) means “elders.” The phrase literally describes the selection of local leaders for each gathered community.

The thread — This practice of appointing local leaders appears in Titus 1:5, which commands setting them in every town. The role of these elders is further shown in Acts 11:30 receiving church gifts and James 5:14 leading prayer for the sick.

Why it lands — The text demands establishing accountable local leadership and committing them to God through prayer and fasting. It requires readers to prioritize spiritual structure and divine reliance over human expansion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

χειροτονήσαντεςcheirotonēsantesHaving chosen δὲdenow αὐτοῖςautoisfor them κατ᾽kat᾽in every ἐκκλησίανekklēsianchurch πρεσβυτέρους,presbuterouselders,προσευξάμενοιproseuxamenoihaving prayed μετὰmetawith νηστειῶνnēsteiōnfasting παρέθεντοparethentothey committed αὐτοὺςautousthem τῷtōto the κυρίῳkuriōLord εἰςeisin ὃνhonwhom πεπιστεύκεισαν.pepisteukeisanthey had believed.

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Titus 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
Acts 11:30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Acts 20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
Acts 20:17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
1 Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
Acts 15:4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.