On this passage, see Meyer’s comment: “ ‘_Ministered_’ here expresses the act of celebrating divine service on the part of the whole church. To refer αὐτῶν to the ‘_prophets and teachers_’ is forbidden by the ἀφορίσατε—and by _verse 3_. This interpretation would confine this most important mission‐act to five persons, of whom two were the missionaries sent; and the church would have had no part in it, even through its presbyters. This agrees, neither with the common possession of the Spirit in the apostolic church, nor with the concrete cases of the choice of an apostle (_ch. 1_) and of deacons (_ch. 6_). Compare _14:27_, where the returned missionaries report to the church. The imposition of hands (_verse 3_) is by the presbyters, as representatives of the whole church. The subject in _verses 2_ and _3_ is ‘_the church_’—(represented by the presbyters in this case). The church sends the missionaries to the heathen, and consecrates them through its elders.” _Acts 15:2, 4, 22, 30_—“_the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem.... And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders.... Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.... So they ... came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle_”; _2 Cor. 8:19_—“_who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace_”—the contribution for the poor in Jerusalem; _Acts 14:23_—“_And when they had appointed_ (χειροτονήσαντες) _for them elders in every church_”—the apostles announced the election of the church, as a College President confers degrees, _i. e._, by announcing degrees conferred by the Board of Trustees. To this same effect witnesses the newly discovered Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, chapter 15: “Appoint therefore for yourselves bishops and deacons.”