Acts 14:23
in Acts 14Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in Acts 14
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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.
This site's exposition
returned again to Lystra
on Acts 14:21-23
Having preached the gospel to that city and taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, retracing the very cities that had stoned and expelled them to strengthen the disciples left behind. Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, they teach plainly that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, the suffering just witnessed becoming the pattern named for every believer rather than an exception. When they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed, leadership established in the same breath as the warning about tribulation.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
Then also another consolation. "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 believed." Do you mark Paul's ardor?-Then other consolation: "Commended them," it says, "to the Lord."
"And when they had appointed for them," etc. Again the ordinations accompanied with fastings: and again fasting, that purifying of our souls. "And having prayed," it says, "with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord:" they taught them to fast also in their trials. Why did they not make elders in Cyprus nor in Samaria? Because the latter was near to Jerusalem, the former to Antioch, and the word was strong there; whereas in those parts they needed much consolation, especially they of the Gentiles, who behooved to have much instruction.
"And passing through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia," etc. It is related that, preaching in like manner through various cities, they departed for Antioch. There, they told the assembled faithful what great things the Lord had granted the Gentiles; how, opening the door of faith, …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Having ordained elders for them, they prayed with fasting." They taught to fast even during times of trial; ordinations were also accompanied by fasting. But in Cyprus they did not appoint elders, nor in Samaria either, as it was near Jerusalem and the apostles, and …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
When they had ordained them presbyters in every Church - Out of those who were themselves but newly converted. So soon can God enable even a babe in Christ to build up others in the common faith: they commended them to the Lord - An expression implying faith in Christ, as well as love to the brethren.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And when they had ordained them elders in every church,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
For if "ordination" was by prayer and fasting (see Ac 13:3), why should it be said they first "ordained elders," and after that "prayed with fasting?" Whereas if the first clause refer to the choice and the second to the ordination, all is natural. they commended--"committed" them--that is, all these churches. to the Lord--Jesus.
When they had ordained them elders - Elder 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, 2Co 8:19, intimates that St. […]
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| χειροτονήσαντες | cheirotonesantes | Having chosen | G5500 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | for them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| κατ᾽ | kat᾽ | in every | G2596 → | 468 times |
| ἐκκλησίαν | ekklesian | church | G1577 → | 113 times |
| πρεσβυτέρους, | presbuterous | elders, | G4245 → | 65 times |
| προσευξάμενοι | proseuxamenoi | having prayed | G4336 → | 85 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| νηστειῶν | nesteion | fasting | G3521 → | |
| παρέθεντο | parethento | they committed | G3908 → | 19 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| πεπιστεύκεισαν. | pepisteukeisan | they had believed. | G4100 → | 237 times |
χειροτονήσαντεςHaving chosen
cheirotonesantesG5500 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
αὐτοῖςfor them
autoisG846 →5565 times
κατ᾽in every
kat᾽G2596 →468 times
ἐκκλησίανchurch
ekklesianG1577 →113 times
πρεσβυτέρους,elders,
presbuterousG4245 →65 times
προσευξάμενοιhaving prayed
proseuxamenoiG4336 →85 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
νηστειῶνfasting
nesteionG3521 →
παρέθεντοthey committed
parethentoG3908 →19 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
κυρίῳLord
kurioG2962 →711 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
πεπιστεύκεισαν.they had believed.
pepisteukeisanG4100 →237 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 2:2And 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.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:13–14
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Timothy 4:6
By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.
- 1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
- Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
- 2 Timothy 1:13–14
Through
Acts 20:32And 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.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:12
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
- Ephesians 1:14
who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
- Colossians 3:24
because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 1:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cassiodorus, Complexiones on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 31; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.