1 Timothy 5:19

‘Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.’

Paul is aware how vulnerable these elders will be to accusations and charges made by different disgruntled members of the church he has good reason to be aware that even Christians can become disgruntled), and so he points out that accusations made by just one person against elders, which cannot be substantiated by at least one other independent person, should not be accepted. The elders are to have the same protection as would be available in a Jewish court of law (Deuteronomy 9:15). It may be that the protection applies to all older men, for they would all have responsibilities over their wider families and might similarly be open to abuse.