Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 11:30

"which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul." — Acts 11:30 (ASV)

Sent it to the elders. Greek, To the presbyters. This is the first mention we have in the New Testament of elders, or presbyters, in the Christian church. The word literally denotes aged men, but it was a name of office only in the Jewish synagogue. It is clear, however, I think, that the elders of the Jewish synagogue here are not included, for the relief was intended for the brethren (Acts 11:29), that is, the Christians who were at Jerusalem, and it is not probable that a charity like this would have been entrusted to the hands of Jewish elders.

The connection here does not enable us to determine anything about the sense in which the word was used. I think it probable that it does not refer to officers in the church, but that it means simply that the charity was entrusted to the aged, prudent, and experienced men in the church, for distribution among the members.

Calvin supposes that the apostles were particularly intended. But this is not probable. It is possible that the deacons, who were probably aged men, may be here particularly referred to; but I am rather inclined to think that the charity was sent to the aged members of the church without respect to their office, to be distributed according to their discretion.