Acts 14:23

Acts 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.

a. NLT: Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

b. NIV: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

c. YLT: And having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And when they had appointed and ordained elders for them in each church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in Whom they had come to believe [being full of joyful trust that He is the Christ, the Messiah].

e. Worrell Translation:And, having appointed elders for them in every assembly; and, having prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord on Whom they had believed.

f. Wuest Translation: And having appointed for them elders in every assembly, having prayed in connection with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

1. “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting…”

a. And [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. when they had ordained [Strong: 5500 cheirotoneo khi-rot-on-eh'-o from a comparative of 5495 and teino (to stretch); to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand), i.e. (generally) to select or appoint:--choose, ordain.] [Zodhiates: to elect to an office by lifting up the hand…In the appointment of the elders of Acts 14:23 “cheriotomeo” is used which in later days often meant “to ordain”. However, it does not necessarily imply the actual laying on of hands. It means to elect through a show of hands by an assembly.]

1). The Acts of the Apostles, Robert A. Tourville: The word is derived from the word hand, and it means to vote by stretching out the hand…By using the word, as used in 2 Corinthians 8:19, namely, that a number of churches selected a man, this indicates a vote in a democratic manner…The selection and recognition was accompanied by praying with fastings.

2). Stanley M. Horton, The Book of Acts: Because the believers needed organization to be able to work together and carry on the work of the Lord, the apostles then ordained elders (overseers, superintendents, presidents of the congregation or assembly) in each place. This, however, was not an ordination in the modern day sense. The Greek for “ordained” is cheiratonesantes where cheir is the Greek word for hand; the whole word means they conducted an election by a show of hands.  

c. them [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. elders [Strong: 4245 presbuteros pres-boo'-ter-os comparative of presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter":-- elder(-est), old.]

1). Stanley M. Horton, The Book of Acts: At the beginning the elders were Spirit-filled men chosen from among the members of the local congregation. Not until many years later did the churches begin to feel that they needed to bring in pastor-teachers who could also be the administrative head of the assembly and who would combine the office of the elder (also called bishop and presbyter with the God called ministry of pastor-teacher…The fact that Paul mentioned that those who rule well, those who labor in the word and doctrine, shows that not all elders did.

a). 1 Timothy 5:17, 18  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

5:18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

2). Kenneth E. Hagin, The Ministry Gifts, In the early days of the Church, when the Church was in the babyhood stage of development, the assemblies were put in the charge of local elders until ministries could develop. The Greek word translated “elder” simply means an older person. These “elders” were older people, fitted to a place of position and responsibility. The only ministry gift [of the five fold ministry Ephesians 4:11 of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers], were the twelve apostles. A novice [baby Christian] could not be set in as a pastor or shepherd of the flock. [Or of any of the ministry gifts] So until some of those newly saved were called and developed into Pastors [and other ministry gifts, teachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles], and this takes time, they would take some of the older people, because people with age usually are more mature mentally, and put them in charge of the flock...To appoint elders to oversee a flock,and even though there is a Pastor, and the elders run it, is unscriptural.    

 e. in every [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

f. church [Strong: 1577 ekklesia ek-klay-see'-ah from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.]

g. and had prayed [Strong: 4336 proseuchomai pros-yoo'-khom-ahee from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer.]

h. with [Strong: 3326 meta met-ah' a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

i. fasting [Strong: 3521 nesteia nace-ti'-ah from 3522; abstinence (from lack of food, or voluntary and religious); specially, the fast of the Day of Atonement:-- fast(-ing).]

1). As the text shows, this selection was done with prayer and fasting.

2. “…they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

a. they commended [Strong: 3908 paratithemi par-at-ith'-ay-mee from 3844 and 5087; to place alongside, i.e. present (food, truth); by implication, to deposit (as a trust or for protection):--allege, commend, commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before.]

b. them [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. to the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. on [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

f. whom [Strong: 3739 hos hos, including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

g. they believed [Strong: 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo'-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.]

1). In holy actions such as this, we must remember the acknowledgement of the Throne of God being in agreement with it.

a). Matthew 18:18, 19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.