Acts 15:6

not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

“ ‘You shall rise up before the gray head and honor the face of the elderly; and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.

Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”

Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you,

After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”

Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

You are witnesses of these things.

I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?

For you always have the poor with you; but you don’t always have me.

teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

Sailing from there, we came the following day opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium, and the day after we came to Miletus.

Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

(but how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule one’s own house take care of God’s assembly?)

that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance:

Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded.

Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,

Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings.

I John, your brother and partner with you in the oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you.

Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.

When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.

The elder, to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only, but also all those who know the truth,

Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;