Elders
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
—heads or representatives of a family, city, people, or congregation. Under Moses seventy elders shared the burden of governing Israel (Num. 11:16–25). Cities had elders who sat at the gate, heard disputes, witnessed legal acts, and represented the community (Deut. 19:12; Ruth 4:1–12). In later Judaism elders took part in the councils that opposed Christ and the apostles, yet the title itself continued to denote lawful responsibility.