Acts 14:23

κατ' ἐκκλησίαν πρεσβυτέρους with אABCD. Vulg. ‘per singulas ecclesias presbyteros.’

23. χειροτονήσαντες, having ordained. The word is found elsewhere in N.T. only in 2 Corinthians 8:19. It is used of the like ordination in the ‘Teaching of the Twelve Apostles,’ 15, χειροτονήσατε οὖν ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισκόπους καὶ διακόνους�. So Philo de præm, et pæn. 9, ὑπὸ θεοῦ χειροτονηθείς. So too Josephus, Ant. VI. 4. 2.

κατ' ἐκκλησίαν πρεσβυτέρους, elders in every Church, i.e. men who should have the oversight, and take care for the growth of these infant Churches when the Apostles were gone. It appears, then, that the Church in these places must have gone on without any regular ministry. On the appointment of Elders cf. Acts 11:30.

προσευξάμενοι μετὰ νηστειῶν, having prayed with fasting. They used the same solemn service, at the dedication of these men to their duties, which had been used when they were themselves sent forth from Antioch for their present labour (Acts 13:3).

On this conduct Chrysostom says: εἶδες θερμότητα Παὺλου; προσευξάμενοι, φησὶ, μετὰ νηστειῶν παρέθεντο αὐτοὺς τῷ κυρίῳ. ὅρα· μετὰ νηστειῶν αἱ χειροτονίαι. πάλιν νηστεία τὸ καθάρσιον τῶν ἡμετέρων ψυχῶν.

παρέθεντο κ.τ.λ., they commended them to the Lord. Cf. St Paul’s parting commendation (καὶ τανῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς) of the elders of Ephesus (Acts 20:32) who had come to meet him at Miletus. The Lord was able here also to build these men up, and to give them an inheritance among those which are sanctified.