Acts 11:29

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

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
Then	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
disciples	μαθητῶν mathētōn	G3101	a learner · noun — genitive plural masculine
every	ἕκαστος hekastos	G1538	each or every · adjective — nominative singular masculine
man	τις, tis	G5100	some or any person or object · indefinite pronoun — nominative singular masculine
to	καθὼς kathōs	G2531	just (or inasmuch) as · conjunction
his	αὐτῶν autōn	G846	the reflexive pronoun self · personal pronoun — genitive plural masculine
ability	εὐπορεῖτό euporeito	G2141	(intransitively) to be good for passing through · verb — imperfect middle indicative, 3rd person singular
determined	ὥρισαν hōrisan	G3724	to mark out or bound ("horizon") · verb — aorist active indicative, 3rd person plural
send	πέμψαι pempsai	G3992	to dispatch (from the subjective view or point of depar… · verb — aorist active infinitive
relief	διακονίαν diakonian	G1248	attendance (as a servant · noun — accusative singular feminine
unto	εἰς eis	G1519	to or into (indicating the point reached or entered) · preposition
brethren	ἀδελφοῖς· adelphois	G80	a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (m… · noun — dative plural masculine
which	τῶν tōn	G3588	the (sometimes to be supplied · article — genitive plural masculine
dwelt	κατοικοῦσιν katoikousin	G2730	to house permanently · verb — present active participle, dative plural masculine
in	ἐν en	G1722	"in · preposition
Judæa	Ἰουδαίᾳ Ioudaia	G2449	the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa) · noun — dative singular feminine, a place

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 8:12-14 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.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Corinthians 8:2-4 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Romans 15:25-27 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
1 Corinthians 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
2 Corinthians 9:1-2 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor fo…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 11:27–end

When our Lord Jesus ascended on high he gave gifts unto men, not only apostles and evangelists, but prophets, who were enabled by the Spirit to foresee and foretel things to come, which not only served for a confirmation of the truth of Christianity (for all that these prophets foretold came to pass, which proved that they were sent of God, Deu 18:22; Jer 28:9), but was also of great use to the church, and served very much for its guidance. Now here we have, I. A visit which some of these prophets made to Antioch (Act 11:27): In these days, during that year that Barnabas and Saul lived at Antioch, there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch: we are not told how many, nor is it certain whet…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 11:29

Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief, &c.--This was the pure prompting of Christian love, which shone so bright in those earliest days of the Gospel.

Adam Clarke on Acts 11:29

Then the disciples - determined to send relief - These were probably Gentile converts; and as they considered themselves receiving the spiritual blessings, which they now so happily enjoyed, through the means of the Christians in Judea, they resolved to communicate to them a portion of their temporal goods; and every man did this according to his ability, i.e. he gave a certain proportion of the property with which the providence of God had entrusted him. The community of goods had for some time ceased.

John Gill on Acts 11:29

Then the disciples,.... That were at Antioch, every man according to his ability; whether rich or poor, master or servant, everyone according to the substance he was possessed of; whether more or less, which was a good rule to go by: determined to send relief to the brethren which dwelt in Judea; either because that Agabus might have suggested, that the famine would be the severest in those parts; or because that the Christians there had parted with their substance already, in the support of one another, and for the spread of the Gospel in other parts; and therefore the Christians at Antioch, in gratitude to them for having received the Gospel, and Gospel ministers from them, resolved to h…

The Church Fathers

"Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea." Mark how the famine becomes to them the means of salvation, an occasion of alms-giving, a harbinger of many blessings. And so it might have been to you, one may say, if you were so minded, but ye would not.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25

They did not wait for the famine to come, but before this they sent: "according as each had the ability." And observe, among the Apostles, others are put in charge with this trust, but here Paul and Barnabas. For this was no small order of Providence. Besides, it was the beginning, and it was not fit they should be offended.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25

"As each had the ability, they sent." But now, none does this, although there is a famine more grievous than that. For the cases are not alike, for all to bear the calamity in common, and, while all the rest abound, for the poorer to be famishing. And the expression shows that the givers also were poor, for, it says, "as each of them had the means." A twofold famine, even as the abundance is twofold: a severe famine, a famine not of hearing the word of the Lord, but of being nourished by alms. Then, both the poor in Judea enjoyed the benefit, and so did those in Antioch who gave their money; yea, these more than those.
— John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 25

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Alms — Not found in the Old Testament, but repeatedly in the New. The Mosaic legislation (Lev. 25:35; Deut. 15:7) tended to promote a spirit of charity, and to prevent the occurrence of destitution among…
Brother — (1.) In the natural and common sense (Matt. 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19). (2.) A near relation, a cousin (Gen. 13:8; 14:16; Matt. 12:46; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19). (3.) Simply a fellow-countryman (Matt.…
Christian — The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were “brethren,”…
Claudius — Lame. (1.) The fourth Roman emperor. He succeeded Caligula (A.D. 41). Though in general he treated the Jews, especially those in Asia and Egypt, with great indulgence, yet about the middle of his…
Alms · .The early Christians — .The early Christians
Antioch · .Disciples first — .Disciples first
Beneficence · 18:5,7-9; — 18:5,7-9;
Elder · IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH — IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Liberality · Exemplified: Church of Antioch — Exemplified: Church of Antioch
Poor, The · Regard for — Exemplified: Church at Antioch — Regard for — Exemplified: Church at Antioch
Righteousness · FRUITS OF — FRUITS OF

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Acts 11:29

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 11:27–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 11:29

Adam Clarke on Acts 11:29

John Gill on Acts 11:29

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Acts 11:29

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Acts 11:27–end

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 11:29

Adam Clarke on Acts 11:29

John Gill on Acts 11:29

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Calvin on Acts 11:27–end

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Acts 11:29-30