King James Bible
"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."
Paul and Barnabas establish local leadership by appointing mature believers as elders in each newly planted congregation. This organizational structure ensures the churches can function independently after the apostles depart, following the Jewish synagogue model of plural eldership. The apostles consecrate these new leaders through intense spiritual discipline, combining prayer with fasting to seek God's blessing and wisdom. This solemn practice underscores the gravity of spiritual leadership and demonstrates dependence on divine guidance rather than human judgment alone. The missionaries entrust these fledgling communities to Christ's direct care, acknowledging that ultimate authority and protection come from Him, not from apostolic presence. This act of commendation reveals both the apostles' faith in Christ's sufficiency and their confidence that these young believers share the same trust.