²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a](A) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(B) committed them to the Lord,^(C) in whom they had put their trust.

² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(A) to see the apostles and elders^(B) about this question.

⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(A)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders^(A) in Jerusalem^(B) for the people to obey.^(C)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church.

¹⁸ The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(A) and all the elders^(B) were present.

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

¹⁹ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(A) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(B)

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good^(A)

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete^(B) was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint^[a] elders^(C) in every town, as I directed you.