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.
When
therefore Paul
and Barnabas
had
no small dissension
and disputation
with them,
they determined
that Paul
and Barnabas,
and certain other
of them,
should go
up to Jerusalem
unto the apostles
and elders
about this question.
Then pleased it
the apostles
and elders
with the whole church,
to send
chosen men
of their own company
to Antioch
with Paul
and Barnabas;
namely,
Judas surnamed Barsabas
and Silas,
chief men
among the brethren:
And
they wrote letters
by them
after this manner;
The apostles
and elders
and brethren
send
greeting
unto the brethren which
are of the Gentiles
in Antioch
and Syria
and Cilicia.
And as they
went through the cities,
they delivered them
the decrees for
to keep,
that were ordained
of the apostles
and elders which
were at Jerusalem.
And from Miletus
he sent
to Ephesus,
and called
the elders
of the church.
Neglect
not the gift
that is in thee,
which was given thee
by prophecy,
with the laying on
of the hands
of the presbytery.
Let the elders
that rule
well be counted
worthy of double honour,
especially
they
who labour
in the word and doctrine.
For the scripture saith,
Thou
shalt not muzzle
the ox
that treadeth
out the corn.
And,
The labourer
is worthy
of his reward.
Against an elder
receive not
an accusation,
but before two
or three witnesses.
For this cause left
I thee in Crete,
that thou
shouldest set
in order
the things
that are wanting,
and ordain elders
in every city,
as I
had appointed thee:
If any
be blameless,
the husband
of one wife,
having
faithful children
not accused
of riot
or unruly.
For a bishop
must be blameless,
as the steward
of God;
not selfwilled,
not soon angry,
not given
to wine,
no striker,
not given
to filthy lucre;
But a lover
of hospitality,
a lover
of good men,
sober,
just,
holy,
temperate;
Holding fast
the faithful word as he
hath been taught,
that he
may be able
by sound doctrine both
to exhort
and
to convince the gainsayers.
Is any sick
among you?
let him
call for the elders
of the church;
and let them
pray over him,
anointing him
with oil
in the name
of the Lord:
The elders which
are among you
I exhort,
who am also
an elder,
and a witness
of the sufferings
of Christ,
and
also a partaker
of the glory
that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock
of God
which is among you,
taking the oversight
thereof,
not by constraint,
but willingly;
not for filthy lucre,
but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples
to the flock.
And
when the chief Shepherd
shall appear,
ye shall receive
a crown
of glory that
fadeth
not away.
Likewise,
ye younger,
submit yourselves
unto the elder.
Yea,
all of you
be subject one
to another,
and be clothed
with humility:
for God
resisteth the proud,
and giveth
grace
to the humble.