Lectionary Calendar
Friday, September 27th, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Elder;   Fasting;   Lystra;   Minister, Christian;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   Scofield Reference Index - Churches;   Elders;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fasting;   Missions, World-Wide;   Self-Indulgence-Self-Denial;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fasting;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Church;   Elder;   Galatians, letter to the;   Mission;   Ordain;   Paul;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Age, Old (the Aged);   Appoint;   Endurance;   Fast, Fasting;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Ministerial Call;   Ordination;   Pluralist;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fast;   Pisidia;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bishop;   Elder;   Fasting;   Timothy;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Elder;   Lycaonia;   Mission(s);   Ordination, Ordain;   Paul;   Timothy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bishop;   Canon of the New Testament;   Church;   Church Government;   Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Fasting;   Laying on of Hands;   Prayer;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   Titus, Epistle to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abstinence;   Bond ;   Church (2);   Church Government;   Commendation ;   Discipline;   Elder (2);   Galatia ;   Ordination;   Pre-Eminence ;   Priest;   Roads and Travel;   Self-Denial;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Elders;   Ordain;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Iconium;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Church;   Elder;   Lycaonia;   Lystra;   Pisidia;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Episcopalians;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abstinence;   Apostle;   Bishop;   Church Government;   Elder in the New Testament;   Essenes, the;   Galatians, Epistle to the;   Intercession;   Ordain;   Pauline Theology;   Presbyter;   Timothy;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Bishop;  

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Paul and Barnabas appointed some jigger bosses over every group of believers to help them and guide them. They all prayed so hard they didn't eat and then turned the jigger bosses over to the Lord's guidance.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Legacy Standard Bible
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Bible in Basic English
And when they had made selection of some to be rulers in every church, and had given themselves to prayer and kept themselves from food, they put them into the care of the Lord in whom they had faith.
Darby Translation
And having chosen them elders in each assembly, having prayed with fastings, they committed them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
New King James Version
So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Christian Standard Bible®
When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
World English Bible
When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when they had ordained them presbyters in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Weymouth's New Testament
And in every Church, after prayer and fasting, they selected Elders by show of hands, and commended them to the Lord on whom their faith rested.
King James Version (1611)
And when they had ordeined them Elders in euery Church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they beleeued.
Literal Translation
And having handpicked elders for them in every assembly, having prayed with fastings, they committed them to the Lord into whom they had believed.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And wha they had ordeyned them Elders by eleccion thorow all the congregacions, they prayed and fasted, and comended them vnto the LORDE, on whom they beleued.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and after they had by prayers and fastings establish'd Pastors for them in every church, they recommended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
THE MESSAGE
Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying—their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and preached in Perga. Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God's grace and now safely home by God's grace. A good piece of work.
Amplified Bible
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed [and joyfully accepted as the Messiah].
American Standard Version
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Revised Standard Version
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when they had ordened them elders by eleccion in every congregacio after they had yrayde and fasted they comended them to God on whom they beleved.
Update Bible Version
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when they had ordained for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Young's Literal Translation
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.
New Century Version
They chose elders for each church, by praying and fasting for a certain time. These elders had trusted the Lord, so Paul and Barnabas put them in the Lord's care.
New English Translation
When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.
Contemporary English Version
Paul and Barnabas chose some leaders for each of the churches. Then they went without eating and prayed that the Lord would take good care of these leaders.
Complete Jewish Bible
After appointing elders for them in every congregation, Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust.
English Standard Version
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when they had ordeined them Elders by election in euery Church, and prayed, and fasted, they commended them to the Lorde in whome they beleeued.
George Lamsa Translation
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with them with fasting, they commended them to our LORD, on whom they believed.
Hebrew Names Version
When they had appointed Zakenim for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
International Standard Version
They appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.Titus 1:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And they constituted for them in all the churches presbyters, having fasted with them and prayed, and commended them to our Lord in whom they had believed.
Murdock Translation
And they established for them Elders in each church, while they fasted with them, and prayed, and commended them to our Lord in whom they believed.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
In every church they chose leaders for them. They went without food during that time so they could pray better. Paul and Barnabas prayed for the leaders, giving them over to the Lord in Whom they believed.
English Revised Version
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
New Revised Standard
And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Moreover, appointing unto them by vote, in each assembly, elders, praying with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(14-22) And when they had ordained to them priests in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they 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.
Lexham English Bible
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, after praying with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when they had ordeyned them elders by election in euery Churche, and had prayed, with fastyng, they commended them to the Lorde, on whom they beleued.
Easy-to-Read Version
They also chose elders for each church and stopped eating for a period of time to pray for them. These elders were men who had put their trust in the Lord Jesus, so Paul and Barnabas put them in his care.
New American Standard Bible
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Good News Translation
In each church they appointed elders, and with prayers and fasting they commended them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne thei hadden ordeined prestis to hem bi alle citees, and hadden preied with fastyngis, thei bitoken hem to the Lord, in whom thei bileueden.

Contextual Overview

19Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead. 20But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. And the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. 21They preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. "We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.24After passing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a long time there with the disciples.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they had: Acts 1:22, Mark 3:14, 1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 2:2, Titus 1:5

elders: Acts 11:30, Acts 15:4, Acts 15:6, Acts 15:23, Acts 20:17, 1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:17-19, James 5:14, 1 Peter 5:1, 2 John 1:1, 3 John 1:1

and had: Acts 13:1-3

they commended: Acts 14:26, Acts 20:32, Luke 23:46, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 2 Timothy 1:12, 1 Peter 5:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 36:2 - in whose 1 Chronicles 15:16 - chief Matthew 6:16 - when Matthew 9:15 - and then Matthew 17:21 - but Mark 2:20 - and Mark 9:29 - fasting Luke 5:35 - and Acts 11:26 - with the church Acts 13:3 - General Acts 20:28 - over 2 Corinthians 6:5 - fastings 2 Corinthians 11:27 - fastings Ephesians 4:12 - perfecting Colossians 4:17 - the ministry 1 Thessalonians 3:2 - to establish Hebrews 13:7 - which

Cross-References

Genesis 14:9
against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar-four kings against five.
Genesis 14:12
They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
Genesis 14:15
During the night, Abram divided his forces and routed Chedorlaomer's army, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.
Genesis 14:16
He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
1 Kings 13:8
But the man of God replied, "If you were to give me half your possessions, I still would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.
2 Kings 5:16
But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it." And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused.
2 Kings 5:20
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."
2 Corinthians 12:14
See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when they had ordained them elders in every church,.... As soon as ever any number of disciples were made, or souls were converted to Christ in any place, they were at once formed, by the apostles, into a church state; and as the gifts, as well as the grace of the Holy Ghost, attended the ministry of the word, so among those that were converted, there were some that were honoured with ministerial gifts, qualifying them to preach the Gospel, and take upon them the care of the churches: these the apostles directed the churches to look out from among themselves, as in the case of deacons, an inferior office, who by joint suffrages declared their choice of them by the stretching out, or lifting up of their hands, as the word here used signifies, and not the imposition of them; and the apostles presiding in this affair, they were installed into the office of bishops, elders, or pastors over them; which expresses the great regard the apostles had to the order, as well as to the doctrine of the Gospel, and the concern they had for the welfare of souls converted under their ministry, by making a provision for them when they were gone.

And had prayed with fasting; for the elders ordained, that they might have a larger measure of gifts, and might be kept faithful to the trust committed to them, and be succeeded in their ministry; and for the members of the church, that they might abide by the truths of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it, and walk worthy of it in their conversations, and behave aright in their church state, both to their elders, and to one another, and that they might persevere to the end:

they commended them to the Lord; both the elders and the churches, to be blessed by him with fresh supplies of grace, to be kept by his power, and to be preserved by him safe to his kingdom and glory. The Lord Jesus Christ seems to be intended by "the Lord", to whom the apostles commended them; and who is every way qualified, and fully able to answer such a commendation; see Acts 20:32 on whom they believed; meaning Christ, whom they received by faith, in whom they trusted, and on whom they believed with the heart for righteousness, life, and salvation: this was true, both of the apostles, who commended the elders and churches to the Lord, and was the reason why they commended them to him, because they believed on him themselves; and of the churches and elders commended, who could be commended to none better than to him, on whom they had believed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 office is certainly possible, but it is not implied in the word employed here, and did not take place in the transaction to which this word refers. The word occurs in only one other place in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 8:19, where it is applied to Luke, and translated, “who was also chosen of the church (that is, appointed or elected by suffrage by the churches) to travel with us, etc.” The verb properly denotes “to stretch out the hand”; and as it was customary to elect to office, or to vote, by stretching out or elevating the hand, so the word simply means “to elect, appoint, or designate to any office.” The word here refers simply to an “election” or “appointment” of the elders. It is said, indeed, that Paul and Barnabas did this. But probably all that is meant by it is that they presided in the assembly when the choice was made. It does not mean that they appointed them without consulting the church; but it evidently means that they appointed them in the usual way of appointing officers, by the suffrages of the people. See Schleusner, and the notes of Doddridge and Calvin.

Ordained them - Appointed for the disciples, or for the church. It is not meant that the elders were ordained for the apostles.

Elders - Greek: presbyters. Literally, this word refers to the aged. See the notes on Acts 11:30. But it may also be a word relating to office, denoting those who were more experienced than others, and who were chosen to preside over and to instruct the rest. What was the nature of this office, and what was the design of the appointment, is not intimated in this word. All that seems to be implied is, that they were to take the charge of the churches during the absence of the apostles. The apostles were about to leave them. They were just organized into churches: they were inexperienced; they needed counsel and direction; they were exposed to dangers; and it was necessary, therefore, that persons should be designated to watch over the spiritual interests of the brethren. The probability is, that they performed all the functions that were required in the infant and feeble churches; in exhorting, instructing; governing, etc. The more experienced and able would be most likely to be active in exhorting and instructing the brethren; and all would be useful in counseling and guiding the flock. The same thing occurred in the church at Ephesus. See the notes on Acts 20:17-28. It is not improbable that the business of instructing, or teaching, would be gradually confined to the more talented and able of the elders, and that the others would be concerned mainly in governing and directing the general affairs of the church.

In every church - It is implied here that there were elders in each church; that is, that in each church there was more than one. See Acts 15:21, where a similar phraseology occurs, and where it is evident that there was more than one reader of the Law of Moses in each city. Compare Titus 1:5, “I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldst ...ordain elders in every city”; Acts 20:17, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.” It could not mean, therefore, that they appointed a single minister or pastor to each church, but they committed the whole affairs of the church to a bench of elders.

And had prayed with fasting - With the church. They were about to leave them. They had entrusted the interests of the church to a body of men chosen for this purpose; and they now commended the church and its elders together to God. Probably they had no prospect of seeing them again, and they parted as ministers and people should part, and as Christian friends should part, with humble prayer, commending themselves to the protecting care of God.

They commended them ... - They committed the infant church to the guardianship of the Lord. They were feeble, inexperienced, and exposed to dangers; but in his hands they were safe.

To the Lord ... - The Lord Jesus. The connection shows that he is particularly referred to. In his hands the redeemed are secure. When we part with Christian friends, we may, with confidence, leave them in his holy care and keeping.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 14:23. When they had ordained them eldersElder seems to be here the name of an office. These were all young or new converts, and yet among them the apostles constitute elders. They appointed persons the most experienced, and the most advanced in the Divine life, to watch over and instruct the rest. But what is the meaning of the word χειροτονησαντες, which we translate ordained? The word ordain we use in an ecclesiastical sense, and signify by it the appointment of a person to an office in the Church, by the imposition of the hands of those who are rulers in that Church. But χειροτονια a signifies the holding up or stretching out the hand, as approving of the choice of any person to a particular work: whereas χειροθεσια signifies the imposition of hands. "Zonaras gives he proper meaning of the word in the text, in his Scholia upon the first canon of the apostles, Νυν μεν χειροτονια καλειται, κ. τ. λ. 'Nowadays, a course of prayers and invocation on the Holy Spirit, when one is initiated into the priesthood, and receives consecration, is called χειροτονια, cheirotonia, so termed because the bishop extends his hand over him whom he blesses, when he is chosen into holy orders. Anciently, the choice or suffrage was called cheirotonia; for, when it was lawful for the multitude in their cities to choose their priests or bishops, they met together, and some chose one man, some another; but, that it might appear whose suffrage won, they say the electors did use εκτεινειν τας χειρας, to stretch forth their hands, and by their hands so stretched forth, or up, they were numbered who chose the one, and who the other; and him who was elected by the most suffrages they placed in the high priesthood. And from hence was the name cheirotonia taken, which the fathers of the councils are found to have used, calling their suffrage cheirotonia.' St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 8:19, intimates that St. Luke was thus appointed to travel with him χειροτονηθεις ὑπο των εκκλησιων, who was chosen of the Churches. Ignatius, in his epistle to the Philadelphians, uses the same term, πρεπον εστιν ὑμιν, ὡς εκκλησια Θεου, χειροτονησαι επισκοπον, ye ought, as a Church of God, to choose your bishop." Much more on this subject may be seen in Sir Norton Knatchbull, who contends that cheirotonia implies simply appointment or election, but not what he calls ordination by the imposition of hands. I believe the simple truth to be this, that in ancient times the people chose by the cheirotonia (lifting up of hands) their spiritual pastor; and the rulers of the Church, whether apostles or others, appointed that person to his office by the cheirothesia, or imposition of hands; and perhaps each of these was thought to be equally necessary: the Church agreeing in the election of the person; and the rulers of the Church appointing, by imposition of hands, the person thus elected. Acts 6:6; Acts 6:6.

And had l prayed with fasting — This was to implore God's special assistance; as they well knew that, without his influence, even their appointment could avail nothing.

Commended them to the Lord — To his especial care and protection.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile