The charity

“And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders.” When exactly did they send the relief funds to the Jerusalem church? Typically, Luke records events chronologically, but this passage is an exception, as he organizes the account thematically rather than by timeline. (1) The timing of sending the relief funds was later, specifically after the events recorded in Acts 12:1-24, which details the following events: (a) The martyrdom of the Apostle James. (b) Peter’s imprisonment and miraculous release by an angel. (c) The death of Herod Agrippa, the persecutor, who died in AD 44. (2) After these events, the Antioch church sent the relief funds. Therefore, Acts 11:30 and Acts 12:25 are connected contextually: “And they did this, sending it with Barnabas and Saul to the elders” (Acts 11:30). “And Barnabas and Saul returned when they had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark” (Acts 12:25). (3) From this, we can understand that Barnabas and Saul delivered the relief funds when the famine was at its peak. (a) The collection of these funds likely took a considerable amount of time. (b) For Paul, this was his second visit to Jerusalem. (4) The relief funds were received by the elders. The term “elders” appears for the first time in the Acts of the Apostles. This indicates that by the 40s AD, there had been a generational shift in the leadership of the Jerusalem church. Leadership was transitioning from the 12 apostles to an appointed group of elders. The elder system was modeled after the governance structure (eldership) of Jewish synagogues. The idea of Gentiles providing financial support to Jews aligns with the principle that Paul later writes about in Romans 15:25-27: “…they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things.” (1) The Antioch church received Barnabas, who was sent by the Jerusalem church. Barnabas brought spiritual blessings to the Antioch church. Therefore, the Antioch church offered material gifts to the Jerusalem church. (2) The Antioch church serves as a model not only for world missions but also for the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers. Gentile believers have received many spiritual blessings from the Jewish people. Let us acknowledge this and offer a prayer of gratitude before the Lord.