I actually thought that Paul went around planting churches and appointing elders to run them. There was no actual pre-eminent "leader" in charge. John was pretty clear about a church where a fellow put himself in charge of the church and called the shots for everyone. John was going there to sort the guy out!
I think our friend is supporting popery in the early church instead of multiple eldership.
They all went to communities with a large population of Jews, who already had Elders.
Paul was an exception, in that his Preaching was mainly to Gentile's and A Mix of Jews.
Later the 13 Apostles were to (after going to preach to the Jews...), then Preach to the rest of the Tribes...more scattered, having adopted Gentile Ways, being called in Scripture "strangers"...Ethnic Israelites, but having been mixed in with Gentiles generationally, were Strangers to their own ethnic heritage.
The Apostles began their travels and ministry traveling in twos, and All had additional men traveling with them, also Baptized, and aiding the Apostles, at times called a disciple of the Apostles.
From time to time the Apostles would meet in the same city, discuss their efforts and progress and issues.
The primary focus was...
First Jesus teaching His "students" to be "teachers"...
And the "teachers", spreading Christ's Gospel...
And establishing a willing group of people to carry on, while they moved on to Repeat the same Process over and over across the land, and in the meantime "check in", "keep in touch", "revisit or send letters, or "aids" to encourage and praise or correct, the willing people.
It was a tough Service unto The Lord, every Apostle and Disciple, Served...
Searching out Lost Jews, Scattered Israelites...telling them their Messiah had Arrived...
And Paul...the Same with the Addition of Teaching Gentile's About God AND His Prophecy of God sending His Messiah And He had Arrived...to Free men from Sin and Save men...
While men continued dying, getting sick, fighting, being imprisoned...
Acts 26:
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14] And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
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15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
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16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
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17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
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18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
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19] Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
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20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Glory to God,
Taken