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 seven years you shall grant remission of debt.
because I saved [the] needy who cried for help, and [I saved] [the] orphan for whom [there was] no helper.
{He gives lavishly} to the needy; his righteousness endures forever. His horn rises high in honor.
He who despises his neighbor is a sinner, but he who has mercy on the poor blesses him.
He who lends to Yahweh [is] he who is kind to the poor, and his benefits he will repay to him.
Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy.
Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable [to you] and your sin remove with righteousness and your iniquity with having mercy on [the] oppressed, {in case there might be a prolongation of your prosperity}.'"
"And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; {otherwise} you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
"And take care not to practice your righteousness before people to be seen by them; {otherwise} you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore whenever you practice charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that they may be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! read more. But you, [when you] practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, in order that your charitable giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
For I was hungry and you gave me [something] to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me [something] to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest,
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in [my] name because you are Christ's, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward.
[When he] saw Peter and John about to go into the temple [courts], he began asking to receive alms.
Now the group of those who believed were one heart and soul, and no one said anything of what belonged to him was his own, but all [things] were theirs in common.
For there was not even anyone needy among them, because all those who were owners of plots of land or houses were selling [them] [and] bringing the proceeds of the things that were sold
Now in these days, [as] the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose by the {Greek-speaking Jews} against the {Hebraic Jews} because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution [of food].
I have shown you [with respect to] all [things] that [by] working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, 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 saints: just as I gave directions about [it] to the churches of Galatia, so you do also.
For it is unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the ministry to the saints,