Acts 11:29

So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Luke records this directive following Agabus’s Spirit-inspired prophecy of a worldwide famine during Claudius’s reign. The narrative moves from prophetic warning to the organized response of the early church communities.

The words — The Greek ὥρισαν (hōrisan) means "determined," marking a deliberate institutional decision rather than a spontaneous impulse. ἕκαστος (hekastos) translates to "each," specifying that participation is measured individually.

The thread — This proportional giving framework reappears in Paul’s collection instructions for the Jerusalem believers (1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:12). It aligns with the principle that deep poverty does not negate the capacity for structured generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2).

Why it lands — The text requires believers to convert prophetic warning into measurable action based on personal capacity. It establishes that Christian relief must be intentional, scaled to individual means, and formally directed to local leadership.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

τῶνtōn<the>δὲdeAnd μαθητῶνmathētōnthe disciples καθὼςkathōseven as εὐπορεῖτόeuporeitowas prospered τις,tisanyone,ὥρισανhōrisandetermined ἕκαστοςhekastoseach αὐτῶνautōnof them εἰςeisfor διακονίανdiakonianministry πέμψαιpempsaito send τοῖςtoisto the κατοικοῦσινkatoikousindwelling ἐνenin τῇtēa<the>ἸουδαίᾳIoudaiaJudea ἀδελφοῖς·adelphoisbrothers;

King James Version

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

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
2 Corinthians 8:2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Romans 15:25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
1 Corinthians 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
2 Corinthians 9:1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
Ezra 2:69 According to their ability, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly garments.
Nehemiah 5:8 and said, “We have done our best to buy back our Jewish brothers who were sold to foreigners, but now you are selling your own brothers, that they may be sold back to us!” But they remained silent, for they could find nothing to say.