CHRISTIAN CHARITY DEMONSTRATED

Acts 11:27-30 And 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 Judea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

It was during these days, the days when Barnabas and Saul were preaching and teaching the word of God in Antioch, that there came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. Two groups of individuals are noted in God's word as being prophets, and each derives it's meaning from different words that have been translated into our English language. The word nabi', whichis translated prophet means a teacher, announcer, or one that declares a thing to others. The words ro'eh and hozeh,whichare translated prophet means a seer, a foreteller of future events and occurrences, and, more aptly to this text, a person empowered by God to speak His will. It is evident that the prophets, referred to in the lesson text, are those that were given the gift of God's prophecy after being baptized into the body of Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit of God.

Coming from Jerusalem, and arriving at the church of Christ in Antioch, one of the prophets called Agabus who, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, spoke to the congregation, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world. Agabus was not relating his own prophetic prediction of this occurrence, but that of God, which was given to him by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This was a prophecy of God foretelling a great famine that was sure to take place in the near future. It is indicated here that the famine would be felt throughout this area of the world, but especially, and more severely, in Judea, of which Jerusalem was its capital city.

It is also evident that Luke wrote this biblical history some time after this prophecy was delivered to the body of Christ in Antioch. We know this because he tells us that the famine had already taken place, saying that it came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Indeed, this prophecy of a great famine had been fulfilled at the time this history of the Acts of the Apostles was recorded.

Those that studied the writings of the Jewish historian, Josephus, tell us that Claudius Caesar began his reign as the Roman emperor in the year 41 A.D., and confirmed that a great famine occurred in Palestine beginning in 44 A.D., which lasted three or four years. The writings of Josephus also tell us that, in order for life to be sustained in this region, food had to be supplied by the benevolence of people in other lands, and imported from countries such as Cyprus, Asia Minor, and Egypt. And, even with the charity of other countries, it is said that many people died from starvation due to the lack of money to buy life-sustaining provisions.

It was the occurrence of this great famine that resulted in the first recorded act of benevolence among sister congregations of Christians. When the members of the church of Christ in Antioch were given knowledge of this need, Luke writes that the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. With these charitable actions, unity within the universal body of Christ was demonstrated and served as an example of benevolence that God expects to exist within each congregation of His church. When suffering due to any reason exists in a particular church, other churches have the responsibility to send sustaining relief that they may endure the affliction. With every incident of pain and suffering, the opportunity exists to demonstrate Christian love. And with every opportunity to show compassion, the sending of relief becomes a Christian duty and responsibility.

The need of the Christians dwelling in Judea was made known to the members of the church of Christ in Antioch, and they responded by contributing, as each was able, that the suffering might be relieved. The benevolent contribution of each Christian was collected and sent to the elders (of the churches in Judea) by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Here, for the first time in the history of the church, elders, or overseers of the body of Christ, are mentioned as responsible for ministering to both the spiritual and physical needs of a congregation of God's people. This text leads to this concluding question: How can Christians bring salvation to the world without willingly demonstrating charity to their own brethren?