Reference: Alms, Almsgiving
Hastings
An alms' (Ac 3:3) is something freely given, in money or in kind, to the needy, from motives of love and pity for the recipient, and of gratitude to the Giver of all. Hence what is given or paid to the poor under the authority and compulsion of law, as the modern poor rate, is not alms. For such legal provision in OT times see Poor. Much might be of the humane spirit which pervades the whole of the Hebrew legislation, and in particular the legislation of Dt, of which, in this respect, De 15:1 may be taken as the epitome: 'Thou shalt surely open thine hand unto thy brother, to thy needy and to thy poor' (RV). The writings of the prophets, also, are full of generous advocacy of the rights of the poor. In the later pre-Christian centuries almsgiving became one of the most prominent of religious duties (Ps 112:9; Pr 14:21; 19:17; 31:20; Job 29:12 f.). The sentiment of the 2nd cent. b.c.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
At the end of every seven years thou shall make a release.
Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him.
He has scattered, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn shall be exalted with honor.
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has pity on the poor, happy is he.
He who has pity upon a poor man lends to LORD, and he will repay him his good deed.
She stretches out her hand to the poor, yea, she reaches forth her hands to the needy.
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
Be careful not to do your charity before men in order to be seen by them, otherwise ye have no reward from your Father in the heavens.
Be careful not to do your charity before men in order to be seen by them, otherwise ye have no reward from your Father in the heavens. When therefore thou do charity, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. read more. But when thou do charity, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does, so that thy charity may be in secret. And thy Father who sees in secret will himself reward thee in the open.
For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in,
For whoever may give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will, no, not lose his reward.
who, having seen Peter and John intending to go into the temple, asked charity.
And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. And not even one man said that anything of the things that was possessed by him was his own, but all things were common to them.
For not even any needy was among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses, selling, they brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
Now in those days, the disciples being multiplied, there developed a murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily assistance.
I gave you a glimpse of all things, that so laboring ye ought to aid the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Now concerning the collection for the sanctified, as I arranged for the congregations of Galatia, so also do ye.
For indeed it is superfluous for me to write to you about the service for the sanctified.