Acts 11:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

NIV: The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

NASB: And to the extent that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

CSB: Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.

NLT: So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.

KJV: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

NKJV: Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

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).

Acts 11:27–30 records a prophecy that great famine will affect the Roman Empire; the church in Jerusalem needs support. This is related to the narrative because it takes place in Syrian Antioch, as did the previous account. It's also about Jerusalem, as is the next chapter. But Luke is intentional, here. Acts 11:19–26 describes the origin of Paul's extensive evangelistic ministry. One of Paul's recurring themes is the responsibility of new churches to financially support the church in Jerusalem; this is where Paul's conviction starts.

Acts 11 accelerates the journey of the message of Jesus into the Gentile world. Peter returns to Jerusalem and explains to the church leaders how the Holy Spirit has fallen on a group of Gentiles in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 11:1–18). Then the church hears how Gentiles are coming to faith far north in Syrian Antioch; they send Barnabas to investigate and Barnabas brings in Saul (Acts 11:19–26). Finally, prophets travel from Jerusalem to Antioch to request aid for the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:27–30). The scene is almost set for Paul's extensive evangelism career to begin.

Until the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 7:54–60), the story of Jesus' followers remained mostly in Jerusalem. Saul started persecuting the church and the members fled, taking Jesus' story with them. This included Philip who shared Jesus' story with Samaritans and an Ethiopian official (Acts 8). Saul's persecution even led to his own conversion (Acts 9). And Peter brought the gospel to a group of Gentiles (Acts 10). After one more story about Peter and rising persecution by the Roman government, the book of Acts will turn to Saul, who will use the Greek variation of his name, Paul, and his missionary journeys to southeast Europe.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.