Acts 11:29

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

Then {G1161} the disciples {G3101}, every {G1538} man {G846} according to {G2531} his ability {G2141}{G5100}, determined {G3724} to send {G3992} relief {G1248} unto {G1519} the brethren {G80} which dwelt {G2730} in {G1722} Judaea {G2449}:

So the talmidim decided to provide relief to the brothers living in Y’hudah, each according to his means;

So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judæa:

Acts 11:29 describes a significant act of Christian charity and unity within the early church. It highlights the practical outworking of faith and love among believers, transcending geographical boundaries.

Context

This verse follows the account of the burgeoning church in Antioch, a diverse and rapidly growing Christian community. Prophets from Jerusalem had come to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, prophesied a great famine that would spread over the entire Roman world, which indeed occurred during the reign of Claudius. In response to this prophetic warning, the believers in Antioch, despite being geographically distant and culturally distinct (many were Gentiles, unlike the predominantly Jewish Christians in Judea), immediately determined to send financial aid to their fellow believers who were about to face hardship in Judaea. This demonstrates the strong bond and mutual care that characterized the early Christian movement.

Key Themes

  • Christian Generosity and Benevolence: The passage emphasizes voluntary giving, with each person contributing "according to his ability." This principle highlights that giving is not about equal amounts, but proportionate sacrifice and sharing based on what one possesses.
  • Practical Love and Mutual Aid: The disciples didn't just pray for the brethren in Judaea; they took concrete action to alleviate their suffering. This exemplifies the command to love one another through tangible support, echoing the spirit of communal sharing seen earlier in Jerusalem.
  • Unity of the Church: This act of sending relief from Antioch (a Gentile-majority church) to Judaea (the Jewish homeland of Christianity) powerfully illustrates the emerging unity of the universal church. It showed that the barriers of ethnicity and geography were breaking down in Christ, fostering a sense of shared family and responsibility.
  • Response to Prophecy: The immediate and practical response to Agabus's prophecy underscores the early church's belief in prophetic guidance and their readiness to act upon divine warnings.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "according to his ability" translates the Greek kathōs ēuporeito tis (καθὼς ηὐπορεῖτό τις), which literally means "as he prospered" or "as he had means." This implies that the giving was not a fixed amount but was flexible and dependent on each individual's financial situation. It's a key principle of proportionate giving, also emphasized by Paul in his writings on giving according to what one has, rather than what one does not have.

Practical Application

Acts 11:29 remains a powerful model for believers today. It encourages Christians and churches to:

  • Practice Generous Giving: Give willingly and sacrificially according to what God has blessed you with, understanding that even small contributions, when given proportionately, are significant.
  • Care for Fellow Believers: Look beyond local congregations to the wider body of Christ, providing support and relief to those in need, whether due to natural disaster, economic hardship, or persecution. This act foreshadows later collections, such as the one for the saints in Jerusalem that Paul organized, as detailed in Romans 15:26.
  • Live in Unity: Embrace the global nature of the church, recognizing that believers around the world are part of one family in Christ, regardless of background or location.
  • Respond to Needs: Be sensitive to prophetic warnings and current events, being prepared to act compassionately and practically to alleviate suffering in the world.

This verse reminds us that true faith is active and demonstrates itself through practical love and care for others, especially those within the household of faith.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:12

    For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath not.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:14

    But by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for your want: that there may be equality:

  • 1 Corinthians 16:1

    ¶ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:2

    Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

  • Galatians 2:10

    Only [they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:2

    How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:4

    Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

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