ACTS 14:23 — KING JAMES VERSION 1
“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.”
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust — the appointment of elders (cheirotoneo, literally to stretch out the hand in choosing) establishes presbyteral leadership in these nascent communities. The prayer and fasting (nesteia) indicate the gravity and spiritual weight of the commission. The phrase committed them to the Lord (paratithēmi pros kyrion) transfers pastoral responsibility to Christ's care rather than leaving it solely with human leaders.