Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Collection for the saints - at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26) and in Judea (Acts 11:29-30; Acts 24:17: cf. 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 9:12). He says "saints," rather than 'the poor,' to remind them that in giving, it is to the Lord's people, their own brethren in the faith. Toward the close of the nation's existence, Judea and Jerusalem were harassed with various troubles, which in part affected the Jewish Christians. The community of goods which existed for a time gave temporary relief, but tended ultimately to impoverish all by, paralyzing individual exertion (Acts 2:44), and hence, was soon discontinued. A beautiful fruit of grace it was, that he who had by persecutions robbed many of their all (Acts 26:10) should be foremost in exertions for their relief. As all Jews contributed a half shekel to the temple, and after its destruction to the Jews residing in Palestine, so Paul urges contributions in support of the Jewish mother church-the more so, that he might show his conflict was with Judaism, not with Jewish Christians.
As I have given - rather, 'gave order'-namely, during my journey through Galatia (Acts 18:23). The churches As I have given - rather, 'gave order'-namely, during my journey through Galatia (Acts 18:23). The churches of Galatia and Phrygia were the last visited before writing this letter. He was now at Ephesus, and came there immediately from visiting them (Acts 18:23; Acts 19:1). That he had not been silent in Galatia on contributions for the poor appears from the hint in his letter to that church (Galatians 2:10) - an undesigned coincidence and mark of genuineness. He proposes them as an example to the Corinthians, the Corinthians to the Macedonians, the Corinthians and Macedonians to the Romans (Romans 15:26-27; 2 Corinthians 9:2). There is great force in example.