Rom 15:26, 2Cor 9:13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia . That is, they have done it cheerfully and voluntarily . See their liberality and cheerfulness commended by the apostle in . Paul had been at much pains to obtain this collection, but still they did it freely. See . It was with reference to this collection that he directed them to lay by for this purpose as God had prospered them, on the first day of the week, . Of Macedonia . That is, the Christians in Macedonia--those who had been Gentiles, and who had been converted to the Christian religion, . Macedonia was a country of Greece, bounded north by Thrace, south by Thessaly, west by Epirus, and east by the AEgean Sea. It was an extensive region, and was the kingdom of Philip, and his son Alexander the Great. Its capital was Philippi, at which place Paul planted a church. A church was also established at Thessalonica, another city of that country, ,etc.; comp. . And Achaia . Achaia, in the largest sense, comprehended all ancient Greece. Achaia Proper, however, was a province of Greece, embracing the western part of the Peloponnesus, of which Corinth was the capital. . This place is mentioned as having been concerned in this collection, in . The poor saints , etc. The Christians who were in Judea were exposed to peculiar trials. They were condemned by the sanhedrim, opposed by the rulers, and persecuted by the people. See , , etc. Paul sought not only to relieve them by this contribution, but also to promote fellow-feeling between them and the Gentile Christians. And this circumstance would tend much to enforce what he had been urging in chapters 14 and 15 on the duty of kind feeling between the Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity. Nothing tends so much to wear off prejudice, and to prevent unkind feeling in regard to others, as to see about some purpose to do them good , or to unite with them in doing good. (h) "Macedonia and Achia" s

Romans 15:26

Verse 26. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia. That is, they have done it cheerfully and voluntarily. See their liberality and cheerfulness commended by the apostle in 2Cor 8:1-6, 9:2. Paul had been at much pains to obtain this collection, but still they did it freely. See 2Cor 9:4-7. It was with reference to this collection that he directed them to lay by for this purpose as God had prospered them, on the first day of the week, 1Cor 16:2.

Of Macedonia. That is, the Christians in Macedonia--those who had been Gentiles, and who had been converted to the Christian religion, Rom 15:27. Macedonia was a country of Greece, bounded north by Thrace, south by Thessaly, west by Epirus, and east by the AEgean Sea. It was an extensive region, and was the kingdom of Philip, and his son Alexander the Great. Its capital was Philippi, at which place Paul planted a church. A church was also established at Thessalonica, another city of that country, Acts 16:9,etc.; comp. Acts 18:5, 19:21, 2Cor 7:5, 1Thes 1:1,7,8, 4:10.

And Achaia. Achaia, in the largest sense, comprehended all ancient Greece. Achaia Proper, however, was a province of Greece, embracing the western part of the Peloponnesus, of which Corinth was the capital. Acts 18:12. This place is mentioned as having been concerned in this collection, in 2Cor 9:2.

The poor saints, etc. The Christians who were in Judea were exposed to peculiar trials. They were condemned by the sanhedrim, opposed by the rulers, and persecuted by the people. See Acts 8:1, Acts 12:1, etc. Paul sought not only to relieve them by this contribution, but also to promote fellow-feeling between them and the Gentile Christians. And this circumstance would tend much to enforce what he had been urging in chapters 14 and 15 on the duty of kind feeling between the Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity. Nothing tends so much to wear off prejudice, and to prevent unkind feeling in regard to others, as to see about some purpose to do them good, or to unite with them in doing good.

(h) "Macedonia and Achia" 2Cor 8:1, 9:2,12s

2 Corinthians 9:13

Verse 13. Whiles by the experiment, etc. Or rather, by the experience of this ministration; the proof, (δοκιμης,) the evidence here furnished of your liberality. They shall in this ministration have experience or proof of your Christian principle.

They glorify God. They will praise God as the source of your liberality, as having given you the means of being liberal, and having inclined your hearts to it.

For your professed subjection, etc. Literally, "For the obedience of your profession of the gospel." It does not imply merely that there was a profession of religion, but that there was a real subjection to the gospel which they professed. This is not clearly expressed in our translation. Tindal has expressed it better, "Which praise God for your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ." There was a real and sincere submission to the gospel of Christ, and that was manifested by their giving liberally to supply the wants of others. The doctrine is, that one evidence of true subjection to the gospel, one proof that our profession is sincere and genuine, is a willingness to contribute to relieve the wants of the poor and afflicted friends of the Redeemer.

And unto all men. That is, all others whom you may have the opportunity of relieving.

(*) "experiment" "experience" (f) "glorify God" mt 5:16