"Elders" is a designation of Old Testament origin. We find
reference made in the Old Testament to the elders of Israel and
also to the elders of different cities. In the Gospels we meet
the term again, but still in relation to the Israelites. Even
the elders referred to in the first part of Acts are of the Old
Testament order (Acts 4:5,8,23; 6:12). When were elders first
instituted in the Church? Acts 11:30 refers to them in
connection with the church in Jerusalem, and this is the first
mention of elders in connection with any church; but though
their existence is mentioned, nothing is said of their origin.
Not till Acts 14:23, when we read of Paul and Barnabas returning
from their first missionary journey, do we discover who they
were, how they were appointed, and by whom. "When they had
appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with
fasting, they commended them to the Lord..." We have seen that
the apostles themselves could not remain with the new believers
to shepherd them and to bear the r