the twelve
Acts 21:22
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
It
Acts 4:19
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
Acts 25:27
For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
we should
Exodus 18:17-26
17
And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18
Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19
Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22
And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23
If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25
And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26
And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
Numbers 11:11-13
11
And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?
12
Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
13
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
Deuteronomy 1:9-14
9
And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:
10
The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.
11
(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)
12
How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?
13
Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.
14
And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.
Nehemiah 6:3
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
2 Timothy 2:4
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.