New Living Translation
Acts 14:23
23Paul 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.
Acts 14:23 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Context of Acts 14:23
21After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 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. 24Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.
Read all of Acts 14Acts 14:23 word by word
χειροτονήσαντες δὲ αὐτοῖς κατ᾽ ἐκκλησίαν πρεσβυτέρους, προσευξάμενοι μετὰ νηστειῶν παρέθεντο αὐτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ εἰς ὃν πεπιστεύκεισαν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when they had ordainedχειροτονέωcheirotoneō · to appointG5500
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
- in everyκατάkata · according toG2596
- churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
- and had prayedπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- fastingνηστείαnēsteia · fastingG3521
- they commendedπαρατίθημιparatithēmi · to set beforeG3908
- to the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- onεἰςeis · towardG1519
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- they believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
Cross-references for Acts 14:23
- Acts 1:22from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
- Mark 3:14Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach,
- 1 Timothy 5:22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
- 2 Timothy 2:2You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
- Acts 11:30This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
- Acts 15:4When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
- Acts 20:17But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
- 1 Timothy 5:1Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers.
- James 5:14Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
- 1 Peter 5:1And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you:
- 2 John 1:1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—
- 3 John 1:1This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to Gaius, my dear friend, whom I love in the truth.
- Acts 13:1Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.
- Acts 14:26Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed.
- Acts 20:32“And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
- Luke 23:46Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Commentaries on Acts 14:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23When 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 , which we translate ordained? The word ordain we use in an ecclesiastical sense, and signify by it the appointment of a person…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And widen they had ordained - ́ cheirotonēsantesThe 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 See how restless the rage of the Jews was against the gospel of Christ. The people stoned Paul, in a popular tumult. So strong is the bent of the corrupt and carnal heart, that as it is with great difficulty that men are kept back from evil on one side, so it is with great ease they are persuaded to evil on the other side. If Paul would have been Mercury, he might have been worshipped; but if he will be a faithful minister of Christ, he shall…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23The apostles worked hard to stay in contact with those who had declared their Christian faith. These new disciples needed care, support, and encouragement (15:32, 41; 16:40; 18:23; see 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 4:18; 5:14). Paul and Barnabas appointed elders: See “Church Leaders” Theme Note.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2423-24. when they had ordained them elders--literally, "chosen by show of hands." But as that would imply that this was done by the apostles' own hands, many render the word, as in our version, "ordained." Still, as there is no evidence in the New Testament that the word had then lost its proper meaning, as this is beyond doubt its meaning in 2Co 8:19, and as there is indisputable evidence that the concurrence of the people was required in all elections to…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 14:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries