Acts 14:23

The elders (plural) in every church (singular) that the apostles appointed must have been the more mature Christians in each congregation. Note that each of these churches had more than one leader (cf. Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1). There may have been more than one local church in each of these towns eventually, but at this early stage of pioneer evangelism there was probably only one church in each town.

". . . it would be unwise to read into this basic administrative necessity later and more developed ideas of church order." [Note: Neil, p. 166. Cf. 1 Timothy 3; and Titus 1.]

Perhaps elders from the synagogues in these communities who had become Christians became elders in the churches. Elder qualifications may have developed and become somewhat stricter between the times these elders assumed office and when Paul specified their qualifications in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1).

The text does not explain exactly how the appointment of these elders took place. "They" probably refers to Paul and Barnabas since they are the subjects in view in the context. However the Greek word used here (cheirotonesantes, "appointed") originally meant to elect by a vote of raised hands. [Note: Kent, p. 118.] Consequently some interpreters believe that the Christians in these churches selected the elders. [Note: E.g., Ramsay, St. Paul . . ., pp. 121-22; Richard C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles, pp. 585-86; and Kent, pp. 118-19.] I favor the view that Paul and Barnabas made the selections. The apostles had earlier appointed elders in the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:30).

"Paul showed that it was his conviction that from the very beginning Christianity must be lived in a fellowship." [Note: Barclay, p. 119.]

Note again the importance that Paul and Barnabas placed on prayer. They forewent eating to pray (cf. Acts 13:3). They also committed their new converts to the Lord Jesus, the Head of the church, in whom they had believed. These missionaries did not overestimate their own importance and become paternalistic, as church planters sometimes face temptation to do.