What does Acts 11:29 mean?
Prophets have come from the church in Jerusalem to the growing church in Syrian Antioch. Agabus warns of a coming famine, an event that the ancient historian Josephus recorded as occurring in AD 45—48."Relief" in this verse is from the Greek root word diakonia and is related to the word "ministry." This is the same word from which we get our word "deacon." The first deacons were called in Jerusalem when it came to the attention of the apostles that some of the foreign-born widows weren't getting enough support. The apostles appointed the deacons to distribute the food in a fairer manner (Acts 6:1–6). Here, the church in Antioch determines they are able and responsible to support the church in Jerusalem.
It's likely Barnabas influenced this decision. He was in the first waves of foreign-born Jews who came to Jerusalem and heard about Jesus. He willingly sold property and gave the money to the apostles to support the many who had come to visit, heard the story about Jesus, and stayed to learn more from the apostles (Acts 4:32–37). This decision also influenced his ministry partner, Saul—later known as Paul—who will make it a point to remind the churches he plants to contribute to the needs of believers in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25–26; 1 Corinthians 16:1–3; 2 Corinthians 9:1–5).
Later, Paul will write that when we give, we should do so generously, willingly, and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6–7). He also talks about giving to those who teach us in the Word and lead our churches (Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17–18).
