Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

The Acts of the Apostles

Jewish converts already knew God and the Scriptures, which is not true of all newly planted churches. The word “appointed” is from the Greek verb cheirotoneo’. Here the verb means “appoint,” “designate,” or “choose.” Unfortunately this word has often been misinterpreted, causing much confusion and debate. Early churchmen, like the famous Greek orator and commentator John Chrysostom (A.D. ca. 344-407), used the word to mean ordination by laying on of hands.'4 In Luke’s day, however, the word had nothing to do with ordination or the laying on of hands. In fact, Luke elsewhere employs a distinct Greek verb (epitithe’mi) to designate the laying on of hands, which he doesn’t use here (Acts 6:6; 8217,19; 9212,17; 13:3; 1926; 2828). Nothing stated or implied in this passage (Acts 14:23) suggests the laying on of hands or a special rite of ordination. Other commentators have insisted that the word’s root meaning in dicates election by popular vote (cheirotoneo’ is composed of the two words, “hand” (cheir) and “to stretch” (teino), thus “to extend the hand”).‘5 They claim that the founders merely presided over the churches’ election of elders. This claim, however, is contrary to the plain language of the text. Cheirotoneo can mean to vote, but it also means to appoint or choose without reference to voting. Context and usage, not etymology, determine the word’s meaning, and in this case the context is conclusive that “appoint” is the only possible meaning. In contrast to these interpretations, all Greek lexicons and diction aries, as well as all modern English Bible translations, agree on the meaning of cheirotoneo' as “appoint.”l6 Thus there should be no debate over the meaning of this term in the Acts 14:23 context. Ordination, laying on of hands, or election of elders by the congregation cannot be proven from this term or passage. Luke used a perfectly good Greek word to state that Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for the churches. The problem in interpretation is not with Luke’s choice of words, but with biblical interpreters who erroneously trifle with etymology. “The verb itself,” as F. F. Bruce accurately states, “tells us nothing about the method of appointment.”'7 Luke simply does not reveal what part the congregation played in the process of appointing these new elders. It is possible that Luke expected his readers to understand that the appointing of the Seven in Acts 621-6 established the pattern followed by all later appointments to church offices. Thus the verb “appointed” summarizes the whole process of selecting, examining, and installing into office.

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