• The apostles can be either elders or deacons, depending on the call of God. Taken in the context of all the other scriptures describing their authority, the apostles are set over the entire church with universal authority for government of the entire church.
  
  • 1 Peter 5:1 "1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed [Apokalupto: removal of a veil]:"

Note that Paul is an elder.  Now, it is obvious from many other passages of Scripture that Paul is not a local elder.  He is a traveling elder, an apostle.  He is exhorting local elders.