Act 11:27-30, 2Cor 8-9, Gal 6:6-10 | ESV | STEP | Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch .

27 Now in these days ^aprophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named ^bAgabus stood up and foretold ^cby the Spirit that there would be a great ^dfamine over all the world (this took place in the days of ^eClaudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^fto send relief to ^gthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} living in Judea. 30 ⁱAnd they did so, sending it to ^jthe elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

2 Corinthians 8

Encouragement to Give Generously

1 We want you to know, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} about the grace of God that has been ^lgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^mtheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave ⁿaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly ^ofor the favor ^{▼▼The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context} of taking part in ^qthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they ^rgave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, ^swe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^tthis act of grace. 7 But as ^uyou excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you ^{▼▼Some manuscripts in your love for us}— ^wsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 ^xI say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^ythough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter ^zI give my judgment: ^aathis benefits you, who ^aba year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^acaccording to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply ^adtheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, ^ae“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But ^afthanks be to God, ^agwho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For ^ahhe not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going ^{▼▼Or he went} to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending ^{▼▼Or we sent; also verse 22} ^akthe brother who is famous among ^alall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been ^amappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^angrace that is being ministered by us, ^aofor the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for ^apwe aim at what is honorable ^aqnot only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is ^army partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers ^{▼▼Greek apostles} of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of ^atour boasting about you to these men.

2 Corinthians 9

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 Now ^auit is superfluous for me to write to you about ^avthe ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, ^awof which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ^axsince last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But ^ayI am sending ^{▼▼Or I have sent} the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, ^baas I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians ^bbcome with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^bcgift ^{▼▼Greek blessing; twice in this verse} you have promised, so that it may be ready ^beas a willing gift, ^bfnot as an exaction. ^{▼▼Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed}

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ^bhwhoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully ^{▼▼Greek with blessings; twice in this verse} will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^bjnot reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^bkGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 And ^blGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency ^{▼▼Or all contentment} in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

^bn“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies ^boseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^bpincrease the harvest of your righteousness. 11 ^bqYou will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^brthrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^bsthe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, ^btthey ^{▼▼Or you} will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^bvconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 ^bwThanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Galatians 6:6-10

6 ^bxLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 ^byDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^bzwhatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For ^cathe one who sows to his own flesh ^cbwill from the flesh reap corruption, but ^ccthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And ^cdlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^ceif we do not give up. 10 So then, ^cfas we have opportunity, let us ^cgdo good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^chof the household of faith.