Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.