Acts 11:29

“Then the disciples, etc.] That were at Antioch, every man according to his ability; whether rich or poor, master or servant, everyone according to the substance he was possessed of; whether more or less, which was a good rule to go by: determined to send relief to the brethren which dwelt in Judea; either because that Agabus might have suggested, that the famine would be the severest in those parts; or because that the Christians there had parted with their substance already, in the support of one another, and for the spread of the Gospel in other parts; and therefore the Christians at Antioch, in gratitude to them for having received the Gospel, and Gospel ministers from them, resolved to…”

“Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief, &c.--This was the pure prompting of Christian love, which shone so bright in those earliest days of the Gospel.”

“Then the disciples - The Christians at Antioch. According to his ability - According as they had prospered. It does not imply that they were rich, but that they rendered such aid as they could afford. Determined to send relief - This arose not merely from their general sense of obligation to aid the poor, but they felt themselves particularly bound to assist their Jewish brethren. The obligation to relieve the temporal needs of those from whom important spiritual mercies are received is repeatedly enforced in the New Testament. Compare Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:1-2; Galatians 2:10. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Then - Understanding the distress they would otherwise be in on that account, the disciples determined to send relief to the brethren in Judea - Who herein received a manifest proof of the reality of their conversion. Acts 11:30”

“11:29-30 The upshot of Agabus’s prophecy was that the believers in Antioch decided to make a contribution to the Jewish believers—the brothers and sisters—in Judea. The believers in Antioch gave as generously as they could and committed the responsibility for this financial aid to leaders they trusted, namely, to Barnabas and his fellow worker Saul. This unified love and support of Christians for one another was a tangible demonstration of the difference Christ had made in their lives. Paul describes this visit in his letter to the Galatians (Gal 2:1-10).”

“every: Ezr 2:69; Neh 5:8; Co1 16:2; Co2 8:2-4, Co2 8:12-14; Pe1 4:9-11 to send: Act 2:44, Act 2:45, Act 4:34; Ecc 11:1, Ecc 11:2; Luk 12:29-33; Rom 15:25-27; Co1 13:5, Co1 16:1; Co2 9:1, Co2 9:2; Gal 2:10; Heb 13:5, Heb 13:6 Acts 11:30”