Acts 11:30
Acts 14:23
And when they had ordained them elders. Observe (1) that elders were not appointed as soon as the churches were planted; time must be taken so as to know what men were fitted for the office; (2) that elders were not appointed to preside over a district, but "in every church"; (3) that there was a plurality; (4) that they were set apart with fasting, prayer, and imposition of hands. It is not here stated who selected the men, but from Ac 6:6 we would infer that they were chosen by the church under the advice of the apostles.Acts 15:2
No small dissension. These men were opposed by Paul and Barnabas, but the fact that they were from Jerusalem, and probably contended that they had the authority of the apostles, gave them an influence.Acts 16:4
They went through the cities. Where churches were already planted. As they went, they "delivered the decrees" on circumcision and the law of Moses decided upon at Jerusalem (Ac 15:23-29).Acts 20:17
Called the elders of the church. No mention has been made before of their appointment, but it was Paul's custom to "ordain elders in every church" (Ac 14:23). These elders were also called "bishops" (Revised Version) in Ac 20:28. In apostolic days there was a plurality of elders in every church; these elders were "bishops", or "overseers". There was no distinct episcopal order. This is admitted even by the advocates of an episcopate. Dean Howson, of the Church of England, declares ("Acts", p. 475) that no special order of bishops was created in the lifetime of Paul, or the apostles, but he dates their origin about the close of the first or beginning of the second century. Prof. Rothe, of Heidelberg (quoted by Lightfoot on Philippians), supposes that after the martyrdom of Paul, Peter and James the necessity was felt for a general supervision, and that this gave rise to the appointment of diocesan bishops. By the admission of all scholars, the episcopal order is "post"-apostolic.
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