Acts 15:6
Acts 15:66So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
JWs cite "the apostles and the older men" as the first-century governing body in session, and argue that the modern Governing Body continues this pattern — a small group of men at Jerusalem (or Warwick) deliberating on behalf of the worldwide brotherhood and issuing binding direction.
Read the composition carefully — "the apostles and the older men." The apostles are men personally commissioned by the risen Christ (; ; ), and the older men are the local Jerusalem elders. This is not a permanent committee of eight men in a fixed office. It is the Jerusalem leadership plus whichever apostles were present. When the apostles died, that specific charism died with them. The modern Governing Body claims no apostolic commission — they have not seen the risen Christ, they work no signs to authenticate their office, and they explicitly disclaim inspiration. They cannot inherit an office the text never says transfers.