No Singular Bishop

The term Bishop was not used in the book of Acts concerning one man over a church or one man over the gathering of Churches or one man over a sea of churches. The New testament used Bishop and Elder interchangeably, all elders were considered Bishops in New Testament writings.

Robertson's Word Pictures says the word Bishop and Elder were the same office described from different languages. Gentiles used Bishop and Jews used the term Elder.

Jesus, constantly worshipped and spoke in the synagogues. Already it is plain, as at Antioch in Syria (Act_11:26), that the Christians can no longer count on the use of the Jewish synagogue. They must have an organization of their own. The use of the plural here implies what was true at Philippi (Phi_1:1) and Ephesus (Act_20:17, Act_20:28) that each church (one in each city) "had its college of elders" (Hackett) as in Jerusalem (Act_21:18). Elder (presbuteros) was the Jewish name and bishop (episkopos) the Greek name for the same office. "Those who are called elders in speaking of Jewish communities are called bishops in speaking of Gentile communities" (Hackett). Hovey rightly holds against Hackett that teaching was a normal function of these elders, pastors or bishops as they were variously called (1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:9; 1Co_12:28, 1Co_12:30; Eph_4:11).

In Acts 15 for instance there was no singular Bishop in Jerusalem or Judea though there were elders (plural)distinguished from the Apostles. Plus all churches listed had no singular Bishop.

Act 11:30 WhichG3739 alsoG2532 they did,G4160 and sentG649 it toG4314 theG3588 eldersG4245 byG1223 the handsG5495 of BarnabasG921 andG2532 Saul.G4569

Act 14:23 AndG1161 when they had ordainedG5500 themG846 eldersG4245 in every church,G2596 G1577 and had prayedG4336 withG3326 fasting,G3521 they commendedG3908 themG846 to theG3588 Lord,G2962 onG1519 whomG3739 they believed.G4100

Act 15:2 When thereforeG3767 PaulG3972 andG2532 BarnabasG921 hadG1096 noG3756 smallG3641 dissensionG4714 andG2532 disputationG4803 withG4314 them,G846 they determinedG5021 that PaulG3972 andG2532 Barnabas,G921 andG2532 certainG5100 otherG243 ofG1537 them,G846 should go upG305 toG1519 JerusalemG2419 untoG4314 theG3588 apostlesG652 andG2532 eldersG4245 aboutG4012 thisG5127 question.G2213

Act 15:22 ThenG5119 pleasedG1380 it theG3588 apostlesG652 andG2532 elders,G4245 withG4862 theG3588 wholeG3650 church,G1577 to sendG3992 chosenG1586 menG435 ofG1537 their own companyG846 toG1519 AntiochG490 withG4862 PaulG3972 andG2532 Barnabas;G921 namely, JudasG2455 surnamedG1941 Barsabas,G923 andG2532 Silas,G4609 chiefG2233 menG435 amongG1722 theG3588 brethren:G80

Act 16:4 AndG1161 asG5613 they went throughG1279 theG3588 cities,G4172 they deliveredG3860 themG846 theG3588 decreesG1378 for to keep,G5442 that were ordainedG2919 ofG5259 theG3588 apostlesG652 andG2532 eldersG4245 whichG3588 were atG1722 Jerusalem.G2419

With money distribution and theological decisions, no singular Bishop is listed, only Elders which were considered Bishops already.

Act 20:17 AndG1161 fromG575 MiletusG3399 he sentG3992 toG1519 Ephesus,G2181 and calledG3333 theG3588 eldersG4245 of theG3588 church.G1577

Act 21:18 AndG1161 theG3588 day followingG1966 PaulG3972 went inG1524 withG4862 usG2254 untoG4314 James;G2385 andG5037 allG3956 theG3588 eldersG4245 were present.G3854

The book of Acts lists no singular Bishop.