Acts 14:23 · Bible study
Acts 14:23 Commentary: χειροτονέω and Early Church Elders
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the Greek word χειροτονέω (cheirotoneō) in Acts 14:23, examining congregational choice vs apostolic authority in the appointment of elders.
Research Summary
- Meaning: χειροτονέω (cheirotoneō) means “to stretch out the hand” in voting; here it likely refers to a congregational choice supervised by the apostles.
- Key words: Elders (πρεσβυτέρους) = presbyters/overseers; commended (παρέθεντο) = entrusted to the Lord; believed (πεπιστεύκεισαν) = pluperfect indicating settled, ongoing faith.
- Main debate: Was the appointment apostolic appointment alone or congregational election with apostolic oversight? The word’s root meaning supports the latter, but some traditions emphasize apostolic authority.
- Theological theme: Leadership is a spiritual act requiring prayer, fasting, and dependence on Christ, not merely human procedure.
- Best use: This verse grounds the practice of involving the whole church in recognizing and setting apart leaders, while reminding us that ultimate security rests in the Lord, not in human systems.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And having chosen them elders in each assembly, having prayed with fastings, they committed them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And passing through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y habiéndoles constituído ancianos en cada una de las iglesias, y habiendo orado con ayunos, los encomendaron al Señor en el cual habían creído.
E tendo escolhido por votação anciãos para cada igreja, orando com jejuns, eles foram enviados ao Senhor, no qual tinham crido.
Ils firent nommer des anciens dans chaque Église, et, après avoir prié et jeûné, ils les recommandèrent au Seigneur, en qui ils avaient cru.
Und sie ordneten ihnen hin und her Älteste in den Gemeinden, beteten und fasteten und befahlen sie dem HERRN, an den sie gläubig geworden waren.
En als zij in elke Gemeente, met opsteken der handen, ouderlingen verkoren hadden, gebeden hebbende met vasten, bevalen zij hen den Heere, in Welken zij geloofd hadden.
E fatti eleggere per ciascuna chiesa degli anziani, dopo aver pregato e digiunato, raccomandarono i fratelli al Signore, nel quale aveano creduto.
A gdy im przez głosy postanowili starsze w każdym zborze i modlili się z postami, poruczyli je Panu, w którego uwierzyli.
Рукоположив же им пресвитеров к каждой церкви, они помолились с постом и предали их Господу, в Которого уверовали.
二人在各 教會 中 選立 了長老，又 禁食 禱告，就把他們 交託 所信 的主。
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.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 14:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Acts 14:23 describes the establishment of local church leadership in newly planted congregations. The central term χειροτονήσαντες (cheirotoneō) originally meant “to stretch out the hand” in voting. Vincent notes that the later meaning “ordain” is not present in the New Testament. Clarke and Barnes both argue that the word implies congregational selection, with Paul and Barnabas presiding over the choice rather than imposing hands unilaterally. Calvin similarly observes that the verb signifies election by show of hands, while the solemn setting apart involved prayer and fasting. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggest that “ordained” (choice by hand) and “prayed with fasting” together describe a two-stage process: the congregation chose elders, and the apostles then dedicated them. There is broad agreement that elders (πρεσβυτέρους) were appointed for oversight and teaching, a term that, according to Vincent, was virtually synonymous with ἐπισκόποι (bishops) in the earliest church. The act of commending (παρέθεντο) the elders to the Lord reflects trust in Christ’s faithfulness to protect and sustain His people, echoing the prayer of Jesus in Luke 23:46 and Paul’s later commendation at Miletus (Acts 20:32).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Apostolic appointment without congregational vote: The apostles are the subjects of the verb (they appointed elders); some later church traditions emphasize ordination by apostolic authority alone, supported by the parallel of Paul and Barnabas laying on hands in Acts 13:3.
- Congregational choice with apostolic oversight: The root meaning of χειροτονέω (voting by show of hands) and the comment of Zonaras (via Clarke) that the people stretched out hands to choose; also the early church practice of election by the congregation.
- Two-stage process: choice + ordination: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown argue that χειροτονήσαντες refers to the choice, while the prayer and fasting (separate clause) cover the ordination, reconciling both views.
What is clear: Elders were appointed in every church through a process that involved prayer, fasting, and entrusting the leaders to the Lord, reflecting the apostles' care for ongoing spiritual oversight after their departure.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Method of appointment (χειροτονέω) | The verb originally meant voting by show of hands; it involves a choice or selection process overseen by the apostles. | Some traditions (e.g., Catholic, some Reformed) emphasize apostolic appointment as the act of ordination. Others (Baptist, Congregationalist) see it as the congregation electing leaders, with the apostles presiding over the choice. |
| Meaning of 'elders' (πρεσβυτέρους) | Elders are officeholders overseeing and teaching the church, often synonymous with bishops in early usage. | Catholic and Orthodox traditions distinguish a separate episcopal office from elders. Protestant traditions tend to see elder and bishop as interchangeable titles for the same office. |
| Role of prayer and fasting | Prayer and fasting accompanied the appointment, showing it was a serious spiritual exercise. | Some traditions view this as establishing a fixed liturgical rite (ordination). Others see it as an occasional spiritual discipline that may or may not be repeated for every elder appointment. |
| Entrustment to the Lord | The elders and church are committed to Christ for protection and growth. | Catholic tradition often sees this entrustment as passing through apostolic succession. Protestant traditions emphasize the direct relationship between Christ and the local church. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Acts 14:23 sits near the end of Paul’s first missionary journey. Paul and Barnabas have just been stoned in Lystra and left for dead, yet they return to the very cities where they faced opposition: Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. Their purpose was to “strengthen the souls of the disciples” (v. 22), warning that “through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom.” In these fledgling communities, believers were drawn mostly from a pagan background, with a small number of Jewish converts. These early Christians had no established leadership of their own. The apostles could not stay indefinitely; they needed to entrust oversight to local men.
The appointment of “elders” borrowed from the synagogue model, where a council of older men (πρεσβύτεροι) governed community life. Among Jews, elders were recognized as leaders and teachers. Paul and Barnabas adapted this pattern for the church. The term “elder” here designates office rather than age, those “most experienced” (Clarke) and “advanced in the Divine life” (Wesley). In the Greco-Roman world, private associations often elected their officers by show of hands (χειροτονία). The apostles appear to have followed this custom, inviting the congregation to express its choice through a gesture of the hand. The insistence on prayer and fasting, reminiscent of Acts 13:3 where Paul and Barnabas were themselves sent out, shows that this was a deeply spiritual act, not merely a procedural vote. The repetition of fasting in a context of persecution underscores the gravity of entrusting shepherds to a flock facing hostility.
After appointing elders, Paul and Barnabas “commended them to the Lord.” The verb παρατίθημι (to set before, to entrust) carries the sense of depositing something precious into safe hands. The Lord, Jesus Christ, is the one “on whom they had believed” (εἰς ὃν πεπιστεύκεισαν). The pluperfect tense of πεπιστεύκεισαν emphasizes a faith that had already taken root and remained. The apostles left behind not a well-oiled organization, but a people sustained by trust in Christ.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 14:23. The wording is well established in the Alexandrian and Byzantine manuscript traditions. The Douay-Rheims translation supplied (v. 24) appears to conflate verses, but this is a translation anomaly; the Greek text is stable. Commentators treat the verse as textually secure.
Reception History
In the early church, Acts 14:23 was read as a model for how congregations participated in selecting their leaders. The Didache (late first/early second century) instructs churches to appoint bishops and deacons who are “worthy of the Lord,” echoing the apostolic pattern. Augustine and Chrysostom noted the importance of the people’s voice. During the apostolic age itself, the word χειροτονέω still carried its democratic sense. By the fourth century, as episcopal ordination became more centralized, church fathers like Cyril of Jerusalem used χειροτονία to refer to the bishop’s laying on of hands, shifting the emphasis from congregational vote to apostolic succession. Medieval commentators often merged the two stages: the “choice” (by hand) and the “ordination” (by prayer and fasting). The Reformation brought renewed attention to the original meaning; Calvin and others argued that the people’s suffrage was essential, though subject to pastoral oversight. Today, the verse informs discussions on elder governance in Presbyterian, Baptist, and Reformed traditions, as well as debates about the role of the laity in selecting clergy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Pattern of Leadership: Paul and Barnabas appoint elders in every church, showing that local, recognized leaders are essential for the ongoing health of the congregation. Leadership is not a luxury but a necessity for survival and growth.
- The Posture of Dependence: Prayer and fasting precede and accompany the appointment. The apostles do not operate pragmatically; they seek God with urgency. This sets a tone for church governance as a spiritual exercise, not a business transaction.
- The Blessing of Entrustment: The elders (and the church) are commended to the Lord, not to human strength. The verb “commended” (παρέθεντο) suggests placing something safe in another’s keeping. The congregation’s security rests in Christ, not in the apostles’ ongoing presence.
Five-Point Outline
- Context of Suffering: These elders are appointed right after Paul was stoned. Ministry leadership is forged in affliction.
- Congregational Involvement: The word χειροτονέω points to a choice made by show of hands. The early church had a voice in selecting its leaders.
- Prayer and Fasting: A solemn response that acknowledges the weight of the task. It connects back to the apostles’ own commissioning (Acts 13:3).
- Commendation to the Lord: The prayers shift from the process to the outcome, entrusting people to the one who is faithful (Christ).
- Faith as Foundation: “On whom they had believed” (pluperfect). The elders and congregation share a faith that has already begun and continues.
Illustration Hooks
- A church plant in a rough neighborhood: the planter has to leave after six months. Who will lead? The people they’ve trained and chosen, not outsiders. This is survival through local ownership.
- A community dinner where volunteers are not assigned roles but raise their hands to take responsibility. The vote shows willingness and public commitment.
- The picture of a parent leaving their child with a trusted caregiver for the first time. The prayer that covers that moment, both for the child and the caregiver, mirrors the commendation here.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- How does a church choose its leaders today? Should the congregation vote, or is that just a modern democratic idea?
- What is the role of prayer and fasting when we appoint elders or other leaders? Are we taking it seriously enough?
- If the apostles entrusted the churches to the Lord, how can we trust Christ for our own church’s future, especially when leaders leave or move on?
Leading a Discussion
Acts 14:23 shows Paul and Barnabas taking great care to establish leadership in the young churches before departing. The way they appointed elders, through prayer, fasting, and likely a congregational vote, raises questions about how we choose leaders today. This session invites your group to consider the spiritual weight of choosing those who will guide the flock.
Discussion Questions
- Read Acts 14:19-23. What do you notice about the context of suffering that surrounds the appointment of elders? How might that shape your view of church leadership?
- The Greek word χειροτονέω originally meant “to stretch out the hand” in voting. How does knowing that this word likely involved a congregational voice affect your understanding of how the early church functioned?
- Why do you think Paul and Barnabas combined prayer and fasting with the appointment of elders? What does this suggest about the seriousness of choosing leaders?
- The apostles “commended them to the Lord.” What does it mean to entrust people to God rather than to human strategies or programs?
- How can your church today honor both the congregation’s voice and the Spirit’s guidance in selecting leaders? Do we tend to lean too far toward procedure or toward faith?
- What does the pluperfect tense (“they had believed”) tell us about the foundation of the elders’ and congregation’s faith? How does that ground their future?
- Think of a time when a trusted leader left your church. In what ways did you see God sustain the community through that transition? What does that teach us about trusting Christ?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Mark 3:14 | He appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach |
| Luke 23:46 | Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. |
| Acts 1:22 | beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” |
| Acts 11:30 | which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. |
| Acts 13:1 | Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. |
| Acts 13:3 | Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. |
| Acts 14:26 | From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. |
| Acts 15:4 | When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws a careful distinction: the Greek word for "ordained" originally meant election by a show of hands, not the later practice of laying on of hands for consecration. He argues that the apostles appointed elders through congregational voting, not through a formal ordination ritual.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that the word "ordain" here does not mean setting apart by laying on of hands, as later church practice understood it. The Greek term simply refers to an election or appointment by raising hands, likely meaning the congregation voted and the apostles presided over the selection.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Christian instruction must be ongoing, not just a one-time event. He distinguishes apostles, who move to plant churches, from ordained elders who are permanently assigned to teach each congregation. He also notes that ordaining originally meant election by a show of hands.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible School notes that the same solemn service of prayer and fasting used when Paul and Barnabas were sent from Antioch is now repeated to appoint elders in the new churches. Their commendation to the Lord echoes Paul’s later trust that God would build these men up and give them an inheritance among the sanctified.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight that elders were appointed through congregational election in every church, not by outside authority. After prayer and fasting, these leaders were entrusted to the Lord, the one in whom the believers had placed their faith.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasises that the congregation itself chose the elders by lifting their hands in a vote, while the apostles presided over the process. He notes that ordination involved prayer and fasting, not the laying on of hands, and that the apostles commended both elders and churches to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange draws a sharp distinction between the present church and the future kingdom of God. The kingdom is not the church itself but a blessed realm beyond this life, entered only through many tribulations. He also argues that the elders were chosen by congregational voting, not appointed by apostolic authority alone, and served mainly as administrators rather than teachers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that the Jewish mob targeted Paul rather than Barnabas because Paul, as the lead speaker, had provoked them more sharply. This detail explains why Paul alone was stoned and left for dead while Barnabas escaped the same fate.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent corrects the common translation, noting that the Greek word means "appointed," not "ordained." He also explains that "elders" and "bishops" refer to the same office, with "elders" used for Jewish communities and "bishops" for Gentile ones.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the newly converted were ordained as presbyters in every church, showing that God can use even a baby in Christ to build up others. He also points out that commending them to the Lord implies both faith in Christ and love for the brethren.