And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself, and your ready mind,

And Jacob said, No, please, if I have now found favor in your eyes, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I need. So he urged him, and he took it.

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him; and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.

But he said, As Jehovah lives, before whom I stand, I shall take nothing. And he pressed him to take it, but he refused.

And when she and her household were immersed, she begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. So she persuaded us.

And when I come, whomever you approve through letters I will send to carry your good will to Jerusalem.

But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

For the ministry of this service not only supplies what is lacking to the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.

For whoever does the will of My Father in Heaven, that one is My brother and sister and mother.

And the King will answer and say to them, Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?

Then He will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.

For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but you do not always have Me.

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son.

Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily service.

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this need;

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

And the Word of God grew, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make certain gifts for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so also you do:

And when I come, whomever you approve through letters I will send to carry your good will to Jerusalem.

But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

I encourage you, brethren; you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have appointed themselves to the ministry of the saints;

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

being well reported of for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,

that the fellowship of your faith may become active in the full true knowledge of every good thing in you in Christ Jesus.

For God is not unjust, to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

By this we know the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.