Act 11:29-30, 20:16, Rom 15:25 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 29. 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 aid as they could afford it. Determined to send relief . This arose not merely from their general sense of their obligation to aid the poor, but they felt themselves particularly bound to aid their Jewish brethren. The obligation to aid the temporal wants of those from whom they had received so important spiritual mercies, is repeatedly enforced in the New Testament. Comp. . (a) "relief"

Acts 11:29-30

Verse 29. 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 aid as they could afford it.

Determined to send relief. This arose not merely from their general sense of their obligation to aid the poor, but they felt themselves particularly bound to aid their Jewish brethren. The obligation to aid the temporal wants of those from whom they had received so important spiritual mercies, is repeatedly enforced in the New Testament. Comp. Rom 15:25-27, 1Cor 16:1,2, 2Cor 9:1,2, Gal 2:10.

(a) "relief" Rom 15:26, 1Cor 16:1, 2Cor 9:1,2 Verse 30. Sent it to the elders. Greek, To the presbyters. This is the first mention which we have in the New Testament of elders, or presbyters, in the Christian church. The word literally denotes aged men, but it was a name of office only in the Jewish synagogue. It is clear, however, I think, that the elders of the Jewish synagogue here are not included, for the relief was intended for the "brethren," Acts 11:29 that is, the Christians who were at Jerusalem, and it is not probable that a charity like this would have been entrusted to the hands of Jewish elders. The connexion here does not enable us to determine anything about the sense in which the word was used. I think it probable that it does not refer to officers in the church, but that it means simply that the charity was entrusted to the aged, prudent, and experienced men in the church, for distribution among the members. Calvin supposes that the apostles were particularly intended. But this is not probable. It is possible that the deacons, who were probably aged men, may be here particularly referred to; but I am rather inclined to think that the charity was sent to the aged members of the church without respect to their office, to be distributed according to their discretion.

(b) "and sent" Acts 12:25

Acts 20:16

Verse 16. To sail by Ephesus. The word by in our translation is ambiguous. We say to go by a place, meaning either to take it in our way, to go to it, or to go past it. Here it means the latter. He intended to sail past Ephesus, without going to it.

For he hasted, etc. Had he gone to Ephesus, he would probably have been so delayed in his journey that he could not reach Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost.

The day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1.

(b) "be at Jerusalem" Acts 18:21, 24:17 (c) "Pentecost" Acts 2:1

Romans 15:25

Verse 25. But now I go, etc. I am about to go now. The mention of this intended journey to Jerusalem is introduced in several other places, and is so mentioned that Dr. Paley has derived from it a very strong argument for the genuineness of this epistle.* This intended journey is mentioned in Acts 19:21, "Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome." See also Acts 20:2,3. That he went to Jerusalem, according to his purpose, is recorded in his defence before Felix, (Acts 24:17,) "Now after many years, I came to bring aims to my nation, and offerings."

To minister to the saints. To supply their necessities by bearing the contribution which the churches have made for them.

(*) Paley's Horae Paulinae, chap 2, no 1. (g) "go unto Jerusalem" Acts 19:21