Act 11:29-30, 24:17, Rom 15:25-27, 1Cor 16:1-2, 2Cor 8-9 | ESV | STEP | So the disciples determined , every one according to his ability , to send relief to the brothers living in Judea .

29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^ato send relief to ^bthe brothers ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} living in Judea. 30 ^dAnd they did so, sending it to ^ethe elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 24:17

17 Now ^fafter several years ^gI came to bring alms to ^hmy nation and to present ⁱofferings.

Romans 15:25-27

25 At present, however, ^jI am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For ^kMacedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed ^lthey owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

The Collection for the Saints

1 Now concerning ^{▼▼The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1; also verse 12} ⁿthe collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On ^othe first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ^pas he may prosper, ^qso that there will be no collecting when I come.

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 ^sgiven among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^ttheir extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave ^uaccording to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly ^vfor the favor ^{▼▼The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context} of taking part in ^xthe relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they ^ygave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, ^zwe urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^aathis act of grace. 7 But as ^abyou 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}— ^adsee that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 ^aeI 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 ^afthough he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter ^agI give my judgment: ^ahthis benefits you, who ^aia 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 ^ajaccording 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 ^aktheir need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, ^al“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

16 But ^amthanks be to God, ^anwho put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For ^aohe 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} ^arthe brother who is famous among ^asall the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been ^atappointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^augrace that is being ministered by us, ^avfor 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 ^awwe aim at what is honorable ^axnot 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 ^aymy 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 ^baour boasting about you to these men.

2 Corinthians 9

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 Now ^bbit is superfluous for me to write to you about ^bcthe ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, ^bdof which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ^besince last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But ^bfI 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, ^bhas I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians ^bicome 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 ^bjgift ^{▼▼Greek blessing; twice in this verse} you have promised, so that it may be ready ^blas a willing gift, ^bmnot as an exaction. ^{▼▼Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed}

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ^bowhoever 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, ^bqnot reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^brGod loves a cheerful giver. 8 And ^bsGod 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,

^bu“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies ^bvseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^bwincrease the harvest of your righteousness. 11 ^bxYou will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^bythrough us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^bzthe needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, ^cathey ^{▼▼Or you} will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^ccconfession 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 ^cdThanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!