Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Alms » Instances of giving » The early Christians
And all the believers were together, and had all things in common. They would sell their lands and other property, and distribute the proceeds among all, just as any one from time had need.
Nor was there any one of them in want, for all who owned houses or lands would sell them and bring the price of the things that were sold, and lay it at the apostles' feet; and distribution would be made to each according to his need. In this way Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement" is what it means), who was a native Cyprus, read more.
sold a farm which he had, and brought the price, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
sold a farm which he had, and brought the price, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Now in these days while the number of the disciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows were habitually overlooked in the distribution of alms. Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables. "So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
"Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
Verse Concepts
Just now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make an offering for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. Yes, it has been made their good pleasure, and their debt, too. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual riches, they owe it to them also to minister to them the Jews in worldly goods. read more.
When, therefore, I have settled this, and have secured to them the poor at Jerusalem the fruit of this collection, I shall come on by you into Spain.
When, therefore, I have settled this, and have secured to them the poor at Jerusalem the fruit of this collection, I shall come on by you into Spain.
Now concerning the offering for the saints, you also are to do as I directed the church of Galatia. On the first day of each week let each of you put aside something, keeping it in store as he may prosper, so that when I come there may be no collections going on. On my arrival I will send those whom you may accredit by letter to carry your bounty to Jerusalem. read more.
And if it is worth while for me to go too, they will accompany me.
And if it is worth while for me to go too, they will accompany me.
Now, brothers, I wish to tell you about the grace of God which has been manifest in the churches of Macedonia. For although in heavy trial of affliction, their overbrimming happiness, even in spite of their deep poverty, abounded to the opulence of their unselfishness. For I can testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, of their own free will, too, they have given help. read more.
With earnest entreaty they craved of me the privilege of a share in ministering to the saints in Jerusalem.
With earnest entreaty they craved of me the privilege of a share in ministering to the saints in Jerusalem.
It is indeed unnecessary for me to write you in regard to the ministration to the saints at Jerusalem,
Verse Concepts
For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you showed for his cause, in sending help to your fellow Christians, as you are still doing.
Verse Concepts
Antioch » A city » A city of syria » Disciples first called Christians in
Then those who had been scattered by the trouble that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the word to none except Jews. Some of them, however, were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on reaching Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. read more.
When news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. When he arrived, and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of heart; for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. Then Barnabas visited Tarsus, to try to find Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians." At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.) So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
When news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. When he arrived, and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of heart; for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. Then Barnabas visited Tarsus, to try to find Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians." At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.) So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Barnabas » Characteristics of » Trustworthy
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Barnabas » Accompanies paul to jerusalem
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Verse Concepts
Church » Membership of officers in » Elders
Is any in good spirits? Let him sing unto his harp. Is any one of you ill? Let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
Verse Concepts
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.
Verse Concepts
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Verse Concepts
Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed.
Verse Concepts
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might set right the things left unfinished, and appoint presbyters in every city as I had instructed you;
Verse Concepts
Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Verse Concepts
Elder » In the Christian church
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses' custom, you cannot be saved." Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them. But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved." Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. When they had finished speaking, James said: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name. "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says. "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David's fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up; "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, "Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world. "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles; "but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood. "For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues." Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia; "as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us; "we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; "men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. "So we have sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. "For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell." So they, when they had been dispatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter, and when they had read it they rejoiced at the comfort it brought. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel. After spending some time there the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them. Silas, however, stayed with them. Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them. But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe. "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us; "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith. "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved." Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. When they had finished speaking, James said: "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name. "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says. "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David's fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up; "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, "Says the Lord, who has been making this known from the beginning of the world. "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles; "but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood. "For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues." Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia; "as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us; "we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul; "men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. "So we have sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. "For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell." So they, when they had been dispatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter, and when they had read it they rejoiced at the comfort it brought. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel. After spending some time there the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them. Silas, however, stayed with them. Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.
They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Verse Concepts
Never neglect the gift within you, which was given in fulfilment of prophecy at the time of the laying on of hands by the elders.
Verse Concepts
And as they went on their way through the cities they handed them the resolutions which the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem had ordained for them to keep. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and continued to increase in number daily.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church to come to him;
Verse Concepts
Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock; and that from among your own number, men will arise, perverting the truth, to draw away the disciples after them. read more.
So be on guard; and remember that for three years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and day, even with tears. "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.
So be on guard; and remember that for three years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and day, even with tears. "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.
On the following day we went with Paul to call on James, and all the elders were present.
Verse Concepts
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, You must not muzzle an ox when he is treading out the grain, and The worker is worth his wages. Do not receive an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might set right the things left unfinished, and appoint presbyters in every city as I had instructed you; men who are blameless, the husband of one wife, with believing children who are not accused of riot or insubordination. For indeed a presiding officer, as God's steward, ought to be blameless, not self-willed or quick-tempered, not a drunkard or violent, or greedy of filthy lucre; read more.
but he must be hospitable, a lover of the good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled. He must hold to the faithful word according to the teaching, so that he may be able both to encourage by sound teaching, and to confute our opponents.
but he must be hospitable, a lover of the good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled. He must hold to the faithful word according to the teaching, so that he may be able both to encourage by sound teaching, and to confute our opponents.
Show 5 more verses
For by it men of old times had witness borne to them.
Verse Concepts
Is any in good spirits? Let him sing unto his harp. Is any one of you ill? Let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.
Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed. Be shepherds to your flock of God; take charge of them willingly, and not through compulsion; not for filthy lucre, but with a willing mind; not by way of lording it over your heritage, but by becoming examples to the flock. read more.
Then, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you too will receive the fadeless wreath of glory. You younger men must submit to the presbyters; and all of you must put on the garment of humility and serve one another, for God resists the haughty, But gives grace to the humble.
Then, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you too will receive the fadeless wreath of glory. You younger men must submit to the presbyters; and all of you must put on the garment of humility and serve one another, for God resists the haughty, But gives grace to the humble.
The Elder to the Elect Lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have come to know the truth.
Verse Concepts
The Elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
Verse Concepts
Elders » Christian
Is any in good spirits? Let him sing unto his harp. Is any one of you ill? Let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, after anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
Verse Concepts
Let the elders who fill their offices well, be held worthy of twofold honor; especially those who have the task of preaching and teaching.
Verse Concepts
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Verse Concepts
Now to you who are presbyters I make this appeal; for I am myself a presbyter, and was a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed.
Verse Concepts
I left you in Crete for this reason, that you might set right the things left unfinished, and appoint presbyters in every city as I had instructed you;
Verse Concepts
Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Verse Concepts
Liberality » Exemplified » Church of antioch
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Paul » Conveys the contributions of the Christians in antioch to the Christians in jerusalem
At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.) So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. read more.
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Poor » Kindness to » The congregation at antioch (in syria)
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The poor » Regard for--exemplified » Church at antioch
So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea. This they did, forwarding their contributions to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.