Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
And when they had appointed for them elders in every church (xeirotonhsantev de autoiv kat ekklhsian presbuterouv). They needed also some form of organization, though already churches. Note distributive use of kata with ekklhsian (Acts 2:46; Acts 5:42; Titus 1:5). Xeirotonew (from xeirotonov, extending the hand, xeir, hand, and teinw, to stretch) is an old verb that originally meant to vote by show of the hands, finally to appoint with the approval of an assembly that chooses as in II Corinthians 8:19, and then to appoint without regard to choice as in Josephus (Ant. XIII. 2, 2) of the appointment of Jonathan as high priest by Alexander. So in Acts 10:41 the compound proxeiratonew is used of witnesses appointed by God. But the seven (deacons) were first selected by the Jerusalem church and then appointed (katasthsomen) by the apostles. That is probably the plan contemplated by Paul in his directions to Titus (Titus 1:5) about the choice of elders. It is most likely that this plan was the one pursued by Paul and Barnabas with these churches. They selected the elders in each instance and Paul and Barnabas "ordained" them as we say, though the word xeirotonew does not mean that. "Elders" were mentioned first in Acts 11:30. Later Paul will give the requirements expected in these "elders" or "bishops" (Philippians 1:1) as in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. It is fairly certain that these elders were chosen to correspond in a general way with the elders in the Jewish synagogue after which the local church was largely copied as to organization and worship. Paul, like Jesus, constantly worshipped and spoke in the synagogues. Already it is plain, as at Antioch in Syria (Acts 11:26), that the Christians can no longer count on the use of the Jewish synagogue. They must have an organization of their own. The use of the plural here implies what was true at Philippi (Philippians 1:1) and Ephesus (Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28) that each church (one in each city) "had its college of elders" (Hackett) as in Jerusalem (Acts 21:18). Elder (presbuterov) was the Jewish name and bishop (episkopov) the Greek name for the same office. "Those who are called elders in speaking of Jewish communities are called bishops in speaking of Gentile communities" (Hackett). Hovey rightly holds against Hackett that teaching was a normal function of these elders, pastors or bishops as they were variously called (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9; I Corinthians 12:28, I Corinthians 12:30; Ephesians 4:11).
Had prayed with fasting (proseucamenoi meta nhsteiwn). It was a serious matter, this formal setting apart of these "elders" in the churches. So it was done in a public meeting with prayer and fasting as when Paul and Barnabas were sent forth from Antioch in Syria (Acts 13:3) on this mission tour.
They commended them to the Lord (pareqento autouv tw kuriw). Second aorist middle indicative of paratiqhmi. Old and solemn word, to entrust, to deposit as in a bank (I Timothy 1:18; II Timothy 2:2). Cf. paraqhkh in I Timothy 6:20; II Timothy 1:12, II Timothy 1:14. It was all that they could now do, to commit them to the Lord Jesus. Jesus used this word on the cross (Luke 22:32).
On whom they had believed (eiv on pepisteukeisan). Past perfect indicative (without augment) of pisteuw. They had "trusted" in Jesus (II Timothy 1:12) and Paul now "entrusts" them to him with confidence. It was a solemn and serious occasion in each instance as it always is to set apart men for the ministry. These men may not have been ideal men for this service, but they were the only ones available and they were chosen from the actual membership in each instance, men who knew local conditions and problems.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 14:23:
Acts 10:41
Acts 13:2
2 Corinthians 8:19
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
