Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 14]
the use of the Jewish synagogue. They must have an organization
of their own. The use of the plural here implies what was true at
Philippi (Php 1:1) and Ephesus (Ac 20:17,28) that each church
(one in each city) "had its college of elders" (Hackett) as in
Jerusalem (21:18). Elder (\presbuteros\) was the Jewish name
and bishop (\episkopos\) the Greek name for the same office.
"Those who are called elders in speaking of Jewish communities
are called bishops in speaking of Gentile communities" (Hackett).
Hovey rightly holds against Hackett that teaching was a normal
function of these elders, pastors or bishops as they were
variously called (1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:9; 1Co 12:28,30; Eph 4:11).
{Had prayed with fasting} (\proseuxamenoi meta n•stei•n\). It was
a serious matter, this formal setting apart of these "elders" in
the churches. So it was done in a public meeting with prayer and
fasting as when Paul and Barnabas were sent forth from Antioch in
Syria (13:3) on this mission tour. {They commended them to the
Lord} (\parethento autous t•i kuri•i\). Second aorist middle
indicative of \paratith•mi\. Old and solemn word, to entrust, to
deposit as in a bank (1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:2). Cf. \parath•k•\ in
1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 1:12,14. It was all that they could now do, to
commit them to the Lord Jesus. Jesus used this word on the cross
(Lu 22:32). {On whom they had believed} (\eis hon
pepisteukeisan\). Past perfect indicative (without augment) of
\pisteu•\. They had "trusted" in Jesus (2Ti 1:12) and Paul now
"entrusts" them to him with confidence. It was a solemn and
serious occasion in each instance as it always is to set apart
men for the ministry. These men may not have been ideal men for
this service, but they were the only ones available and they were
chosen from the actual membership in each instance, men who knew
local conditions and problems.
14:24 {When they had spoken the word in Perga} (\lal•santes en
Perg•i ton logon\). Now they stopped and preached in Perga which
they had apparently not done before (see 13:13f.). After
leaving Antioch they passed on through Pisidia, as if Antioch was
not strictly in Pisidia (see on 13:14) and into Pamphylia. They
crossed from Perga to Attaleia, the port of Perga, sixteen miles
down the Cestus, and capital of Pamphylia, to find a ship for
Antioch in Syria. It is now called Adala and for long was the
chief harbour of the south coast of Asia Minor. We do not know
why they did not revisit Cyprus, perhaps because no permanent
Gentile churches were founded there.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC14.RWP.html (12 of 14) [28/08/2004 09:06:53 a.m.]