Care Sent by Barnabas and Saul - Acts 11:30

The physician Luke wrote, “in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared how the disciples, “sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” where we read:

Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

The verse begins, “Which also they did, ...” Luke began with the words, “which also” which means “that even so and indeed” “they did” or “the disciples sent relief to the brethren which dwelt in Judaea”. Luke shared how the “disciples of Jesus” carried out their desire to help the fellow believers in “Judaea”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Luke continued with the words, “and sent it to the elders” which means “and dispatched and ordered the relief to the advanced, mature and senior believers in Judaea” “by the hands” or “by way of the physical hands” “of Barnabas” which means “belonging to Barnabas whose name means son of rest and was the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus and was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul” “and Saul” or “and Saul that means desired and was the Jewish name of Paul”. Luke shared how the “disciples” of Jesus “sent” the “relief” to the “elders” of Judaea through the hands of “Barnabas and Saul”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the church was working in a coordinated effort to bring relief to the fellow believers in Judaea. They sent the “relief” through “Barnabas and Saul” who were engaged with the believers in Antioch. God's church was at work, and when a person yields their life to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they become part of His family who minister to each other. God loves people, and He employs them in His Kingdom to share His “gospel of salvation” throughout the world and to serve others who believe in Him. Let all who read these words submit themselves to Jesus and be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and become part of the greatest family in the world.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Luke share how, “Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".