Benevolence

1
Benevolence
2
Benevolence
And all who believed were together and had all
things in common. And they were selling their
possessions and belongings and distributing the
proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts
244-45) Now the full number of those who
believed were of one heart and soul, and no one
said that any of the things that belonged to him
was his own, but they had everything in common.
(Acts 432)
3
Benevolence
There was not a needy person among them, for as
many as were owners of lands or houses sold them
and brought the proceeds of what was sold and
laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was
distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph,
who was also called by the apostles Barnabas
(which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a
native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to
him and brought the money and laid it at the
apostles' feet. (Acts 434-37)
4
Benevolence
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira,
sold a piece of property, and with his wife's
knowledge he kept back for himself some of the
proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid
it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said,
"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie
to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself
part of the proceeds of the land? While it
remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And
after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?
Why is it that you have contrived this deed in
your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
(Acts 51-4)
5
Benevolence
Now concerning the collection for the saints as
I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also
are to do. On the first day of every week, each
of you is to put something aside and store it up,
as he may prosper, so that there will be no
collecting when I come. (1 Corinthians 161-2)
6
Benevolence
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of
God that has been given among the churches of
Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction,
their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty
have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on
their part. For they gave according to their
means, as I can testify, and beyond their means,
of their own free will, begging us earnestly for
the favor of taking part in the relief of the
saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they
gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the
will of God to us. (2 Corinthians 81-5)
7
Benevolence
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem
bringing aid to the saints. (Romans 1525) Now
concerning the collection for the saints as I
directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are
to do. On the first day of every week, each of
you is to put something aside and store it up, as
he may prosper, so that there will be no
collecting when I come. (1 Corinthians 161-2)
8
Benevolence
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the
temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter
directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said,
"Look at us." And he fixed his attention on
them, expecting to receive something from
them. But Peter said, "I have no
silver and gold, but what I do have I give
to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (Acts 33-6)
9
Benevolence
Now in these days when the disciples were
increasing in number, a complaint by the
Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because
their widows were being neglected in the daily
distribution. And the twelve said, "It is not
right that we should give up preaching the word
of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick
out from among you seven men of good repute, full
of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint
to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to
prayer and to the ministry of the word." Andthey
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and
Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a
proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the
apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on
them. (Acts 61-6)
10
Benevolence
Now in these days prophets came down from
Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named
Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that
there would be a great famine over all the world
(this took place in the days of Claudius). So the
disciples determined, everyone according to his
ability, to send relief to the brothers living in
Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders
by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 1127-30)
11
Benevolence
At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem
bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and
Achaia have been pleased to make some
contribution for the poor among the saints at
Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed
they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have
come to share in their spiritual blessings, they
ought also to be of service to them in material
blessings. (Romans 1525-27)
12
Benevolence
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of
God that has been given among the churches of
Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction,
their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty
have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on
their part. For they gave according to their
means, as I can testify, and beyond their means,
of their own free will, begging us earnestly for
the favor of taking part in the relief of the
saintssee that you excel in this act of grace
also. I say this not as a command, but to prove
by the earnestness of others that your love also
is genuine. (2 Corinthians 81-8)
13
Benevolence
Now it is superfluous for me to write to you
about the ministry for the saints, for I know
your readinessBut I am sending the brothers so
that our boasting about you may not prove vain in
this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said
you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come
with me and find that you are not ready, we would
be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being
so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge
the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in
advance for the gift you have promised, so that
it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an
exaction. (2 Corinthians 91-5)
14
Benevolence
And when I arrive, I will send those whom you
accredit by letter to carry your gift to
Jerusalem. (1 Corinthians 163) As for Titus,
he is my partner and fellow worker for your
benefit. And as for our brothers, they are
messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 823) Sopater of Berea, the son
of Pyrrhus from Berea, accompanied him and of
the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus and
Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy and the Asians,
Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 204)
15
Benevolence
After these days we got ready and went up to
Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from
Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house
of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom
we should lodge. When we had come to Jerusalem,
the brothers received us gladly. On the following
day Paul went in with us to James, and all the
elders were present. After greeting them, he
related one by one the things that God had done
among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when
they heard it, they glorified God. And they said
to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands
there are among the Jews of those who have
believed. (Acts 2115-20)
16
Benevolence
Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left
everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly,
I say to you, there is no one who has left house
or brothers or sisters or mother or father or
children or lands, for my sake and for the
gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in
this time, houses and brothers and sisters and
mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions, and in the age to come eternal
life. But many who are first will be last, and
the last first." (Mark 1028-31)
17
Benevolence
"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall
we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall
we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these
things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you." (Matthew 631-34)
18
Benevolence
And all who believed were together and had all
things in common. And they were selling their
possessions and belongings and distributing the
proceeds to all, as any had need. (Acts 244-45)
19
Benevolence
this benefits you, whostarted not only to do
this work but also to desire to do it. So now
finish doing it as well, so that your readiness
in desiring it may be matched by your completing
it out of what you have. For if the readiness is
there, it is acceptable according to what a
person has, not according to what he does not
have. I do not mean that others should be eased
and you burdened, but that as a matter of
fairness your abundance at the present time
should supply their need, so that their abundance
may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had
nothing left over, and whoever gathered little
had no lack." (2 Corinthians 810-15)
20
Benevolence
21
Benevolence