Acts 14:23

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

1. IMPORTANT: These early churches needed leadership. Paul and Barnabas appointed:

1. Ordain - This word simply means to appoint, to set in office.

2. Elders - There are three synonymous terms - Elder, Bishop, Pastor. They are used interchangeably for the same office in the church.

3. Every Church - The New Testament is clear that elders were not to be over some extended territory. There were to be elders in every church. Each local congregation should have elders to oversee the work of that church. One of the first departures from the New Testament pattern was the rise of rank, power and extension of authority beyond the local church.

4. Pray and Fast - Prayer and fasting are often twins. Fasting suggests that we forgo the material and fleshly - so we can pray, meditate and focus on the spiritual things of importance in our lives.

5. Commended them - Thayer's Lexicon says of this word, "to entrust, to commit to one's charge."

6. They were young in the faith. They must be ready to carry on without Paul guiding them. They needed to be able to survive the persecution and hardship on their own faith. They must not rely on the faith and strength of Paul.