The beloved physician Luke shared how, “there came there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared concerning Paul and Barnabas, “when they had ordained them elders in every church”, where we read:
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
The verse begins, “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had ordained them” which means “and at the time Paul and Barnabas appointed and selected” “elders” or “presbyters or overseers” “in every church” which means “within each, all and everyone of the assemblies of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “and had prayed with fasting” or “and made orations, worshiped and made supplications with voluntary abstaining from food and drink as a religious exercise”. Luke shared how “Paul and Barnabas” selected “overseers” in all the “assemblies of Christians”, and they made “orations” to God and “abstained” from food and drink in dedication to Him.
The verse continues, “... they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” Luke added the words, “they commended them” or “Paul and Barnabas set forth and entrusted the elders” “to the Lord” which means “to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “on whom they believed” or “upon the One Paul and Barnabas trusted, had confidence in, clung to and relied upon”. Luke shared how “Paul and Barnabas” “entrusted” the “elders” they selected to the Lord Jesus in whom they fully trusted and relied upon.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul and Barnabas” selected “presbyters or overseers” in the churches that were assembled. God is a God of order, and when “Paul and Barnabas” selected “leadership” in the churches, they knew to “pray and fast” before they “set” them before “the Lord”. “Paul and Barnabas” “believed” in Jesus because they knew He came to die for their sins and to grant them everlasting life. Jesus wants everyone to believe and trust in Him so they can have a personal relationship with His Father God. Leadership in the church was to ensure people had the opportunity to know Jesus and to grow in their relationship with Him. Let everyone who reads these words yield themselves to Jesus and understand the role of “elders or overseers” within the church.
Next time Luke shares how Paul and Barnabas, “came to Pamphylia”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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