Acts 11:29
in Acts 11So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judæa:
KJV
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:
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This verse in Acts 11
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThey decided to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. They knew that in Judea, and especially in Jerusalem, the famine would rage more fiercely. There, the poor saints, who, having sold their possessions, houses, and fields, brought the prices to the apostles, did …
This site's exposition
decided to send relief
on Acts 11:29-30
Each according to his ability, the disciples sent relief to Judea, the first recorded gift from a largely Gentile church to the believers there. Paul's later collection in Romans 15:25 to 27 follows the same pattern.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea." Mark how the famine becomes to them the means of salvation, an occasion of alms-giving, a harbinger of many blessings. And so it might have been to you, one may say, if you were so minded, but ye would not.
They did not wait for the famine to come, but before this they sent: "according as each had the ability." And observe, among the Apostles, others are put in charge with this trust, but here Paul and Barnabas. For this was no small order of Providence. Besides, it was the beginning, and it was not fit they should be offended.
"As each had the ability, they sent." But now, none does this, although there is a famine more grievous than that. For the cases are not alike, for all to bear the calamity in common, and, while all the rest abound, for the poorer to be famishing. And the expression shows that the givers also were poor, for, it says, "as each of them had the means." A twofold famine, even as the abundance is twofold: a severe famine, a famine not of hearing the word of the Lord, but of being nourished by alms. Then, both the poor in Judea enjoyed the benefit, and so did those in Antioch who gave their money; yea, these more than those.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now the disciples, each according to what they had, decided to send aid to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Paul. Here the disciples seem, to those who understand poorly, not …
"Then the disciples determined, each according to his ability." Look: for them even famine becomes an occasion for salvation, an opportunity for mercy. Look: they become believers and bring forth fruits worthy of faith – they show mercy not only to those near, but also …
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Then the disciples,....
Some for good-will, and some for ill-will, would spread the report of it; so that before he himself had returned to Jerusalem the apostles and the brethren there and in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God, that is, the gospel of Christ, which is not only a word of God, but the word of God; for it is the summary and centre of all divine revelation.
Every man determined to send something, more or less, according to his ability, what he could spare from the support of himself and his family, and according as God had prospered him. What may be said to be according to our ability we must judge for ourselves, but must be careful that we judge righteous judgment.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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 Rom 15:25-27; 1Co 16:1-2; 2Co 9:1-2; Gal 2:10.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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 - determined to send relief - These were probably Gentile converts; and as they considered themselves receiving the spiritual blessings, which they now so happily enjoyed, through the means of the Christians in Judea, they resolved to communicate to them a portion of their temporal goods; and every man did this according to his ability, i.e. he gave a certain proportion of the property with which the providence of God had entrusted him. The community of goods had for some time ceased.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τῶν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μαθητῶν | matheton | the disciples | G3101 → | 260 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| εὐπορεῖτό | euporeito | was prospered | G2141 → | |
| τις, | tis | anyone, | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ὥρισαν | horisan | determined | G3724 → | 8 times |
| ἕκαστος | hekastos | each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| αὐτῶν | auton | of them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἰς | eis | for | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| διακονίαν | diakonian | ministry | G1248 → | 34 times |
| πέμψαι | pempsai | to send | G3992 → | 79 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατοικοῦσιν | katoikousin | dwelling | G2730 → | 44 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίᾳ | ioudaia | Judea | G2449 → | 44 times |
| ἀδελφοῖς· | adelphois | brothers; | G80 → | 343 times |
τῶν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
μαθητῶνthe disciples
mathetonG3101 →260 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
εὐπορεῖτόwas prospered
euporeitoG2141 →
τις,anyone,
tisG5100 →528 times
ὥρισανdetermined
horisanG3724 →8 times
ἕκαστοςeach
hekastosG1538 →81 times
αὐτῶνof them
autonG846 →5565 times
εἰςfor
eisG1519 →1755 times
διακονίανministry
diakonianG1248 →34 times
πέμψαιto send
pempsaiG3992 →79 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
κατοικοῦσινdwelling
katoikousinG2730 →44 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἸουδαίᾳJudea
ioudaiaG2449 →44 times
ἀδελφοῖς·brothers;
adelphoisG80 →343 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
- 1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Acts 24:17
After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1–9
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1–2
Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
- Hebrews 13:16
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.