Lesson 2 - Question 23 of 41

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The Kingdom:  Jesus Providing and Caring for His Church:

Jesus set up an organizational pattern for His church to help provide for it...and to protect it.

"Church" - What does it Mean?

The English word "church" is translated from the Greek word "Ekklesia" (Greek word #1577), meaning "the ones that are called out."

The group of Christians...the "called out" were referred to in many ways, including congregations (Acts 4:32, Acts 6:2-5, Acts 15:30, Hebrews 2:12), or churches" (e.g., Romans 16:16 - "All the churches of Christ greet you" or I Thessalonians 2:14 - "...the churches of God in Christ Jesus").

The Church Continues to Grow:

Jesus' disciples went out and preached the gospel.  As the numbers of new Christians increased, they encouraged each of the new disciples to continue in the faith...and warned them of the tribulations and struggles to come.  Acts 14:21-23 says:

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.  Acts 14:21-23 (NAS)

Question:

According to Acts 14:23, what was set up in every church at that time?

A Priest Elders Earthly Head

Other Translations - Acts 14:21-23:

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. 23 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. (NIV)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (NKJ)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. (ASV)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 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. (KJV)

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