Upon the first day of the week So κατα μιαν σαββατων
here signifies, the Hebrews using the numeral for the ordinal numbers, as Genesis 1:5, The evening and the morning were one day; that is, the first day; and also using the word sabbath to denote the week, as Luke 18:12. I fast twice, του σαββατου, in the week. So Mark 16:2, πρωι της μιας σαββατων, early the first day of the week. Let every one of you lay by him in store, &c. Not the rich only: let him also that hath little gladly give of that little, as God hath prospered him Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man, when he has or gains one pound, give a tenth to God, when he has or gains ten pounds, he will give a tenth to God; when he has or gains a hundred, he will give the tenth of this also. “And yet,” says Mr. Wesley, “I show unto you a more excellent way. He that hath ears to hear let him hear: Stint yourself to no proportion at all; but lend to God all you can.” That there be no gatherings No necessity of making any particular collections; when I come From these last words it is inferred that θησαυριζων, here rendered laying by him in store, signifies to put his charity into a common box; because, if they had kept it at home, there would have been need of gathering it when the apostle came. But the words εκαστος παρ ' εαυτω τιθετω, let every one place it with himself, admit not of this sense; nor, when each of them had done this, could there be any necessity of making collections; or, as that expression imports, soliciting the charities of others, but only of receiving the contributions thus laid by for the use of the saints. We may observe here, that from the beginning, the Christians were wont to assemble on the first day of the week, called by them the Lord's day, to perform their religious worship. “This day being the Lord's day,” saith Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, “we keep it holy.” “On Sunday,” saith Justin, “all Christians in the city or country meet together, because that is the day of our Lord's resurrection; and then we read the writings of the prophets and apostles. This being done, the president makes an oration to the assembly, to exhort them to imitate and do the things they heard: then we all join in prayer, and after that we celebrate the Lord's supper.” See Whitby. And when 1 come When I am arrived at Corinth; whomsoever ye shall approve by letters Signed by the members of your church, or their representatives; them will I send to bring your liberality Greek, την χαριν υμων; literally, your grace; that is, the fruit of your grace, or, your free gift, to Jerusalem, to be there distributed among the poor Christians. And if it be meet If it be thought proper; that I also should go Thither on this occasion; they shall go with me That they may witness for me that no part of the money received has been withheld, but that the whole of it has been delivered with the greatest fidelity, to be employed solely for the purposes for which it was contributed.