Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

The Acts of the Apostles

the case. Luke writes that “the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter” (Acts 1526). Plainly “the apostles and the el ders,” as the church’s official leaders, jointly shared in these delibera tions. The elders’ close association with the apostles demonstrates their significant position and role in the church at Jerusalem. Even though the elders could not claim the same distinction as the apostles, they represented at that time the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. The apostles’ unique, universal commission required them to travel. So as the apostles gradually left Jerusalem, the daily supervision of the church became the elders’ responsibility. The elders’ role, therefore, was ab solutely essential in combating any legalistic error that might emanate from Jerusalem (Acts 1525). Because of the Jerusalem elders’ close association with the twelve apostles, their leadership of the first Christian church, and their con servative Jewish character, they possessed a unique status and influ ence among the churches. The disavowal of the Judaizers’ legalistic gospel by the apostles and the Jerusalem elders was of utmost impor tance to Gentile Christians. Yet there is no clear evidence from the New Testament that the Jerusalem elders had formal jurisdiction over Gentile churches. Furthermore, the decision reached at this conference was the deci sion of the apostles, elders, and church in Jerusalem.5 It was not a joint decision by all the churches of Judea, Syria, or Cilicia. The “church” mentioned in verses 4 and 22 is the church in Jerusalem, not Antioch. The resulting letter makes this clear: Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders [of Jerusalem], with the whole church [in Jerusalem, vv. 4, 12], to choose men from among them [Jerusalem] to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. . .and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.. .For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials” (Acts 15:22-25,28).

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