¹⁰ Only, they asked us to remember the poor, ^(A)the very thing I was eager to do.

¹⁷ Now ^(A)after several years ^(B)I came to bring alms to ^(C)my nation and to present ^(D)offerings.

¹⁷ But ^(A)if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet ^(B)closes his heart against him, ^(C)how does God's love abide in him?

¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and ^(A)to share what you have, for such ^(B)sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^(B)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For they gave ^(C)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴ begging us earnestly ^(D)for the favor^[b] of taking part in ^(E)the relief of the saints— ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they ^(F)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶ Accordingly, ^(G)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^(H)this act of grace. ⁷ But as ^(I)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you^[c]—^(J)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

^8 (K)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(L)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

^15 (A)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ^16 (B)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that?

The Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning^{[a] (A)}the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. ² On ^(B)the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, ^(C)as he may prosper, ^(D)so that there will be no collecting when I come.

²⁵ At present, however, ^(A)I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. ²⁶ For ^(B)Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. ²⁷ For they were pleased to do it, and indeed ^(C)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.

²⁹ So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^(A)to send relief to ^(B)the brothers^[a] living in Judea. ^30 (C)And they did so, sending it to ^(D)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.