Acts 11:29 Meaning and Explanation
“Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The disciples at Antioch resolve, each according to his ability, to send relief to the believers in Judaea.
What Does Acts 11:29 Mean?
Antioch's answer to the prophecy is immediate and concrete: every disciple, according to his own ability, determines to send relief to the brethren of Judaea. The young church of the nations organizes help for the Jewish mother church before the crisis has even arrived.
This is the first recorded relief effort between churches, and grace shapes its design: each gives according to ability, willing hearts measuring their own capacity (compare 2 Cor. 8:12). The Greeks who received the gospel from Judaea now send bread back to Judaea — spiritual debts repaid in practical love. Faith that has truly received Christ instinctively gives; a church born of grace becomes generous.
Acts 11:29 in the Original Language
diakonia (διακονία), 'relief' -- practical service, ministry to need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 11:29
What does Acts 11:29 mean?
The disciples at Antioch resolve, each according to his ability, to send relief to the believers in Judaea.