Who gave the contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem in Romans 15:26?
Romans 15:26 states that it pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem. These Gentile believers in Achaia and Macedonia gave financial help to the needy Jewish believers in Jerusalem, as the context explains.
Les explains that at this time there were no mission boards, no foreign missionaries to support, and no huge church plants. The local churches met in homes and did not pay salaries, so their responsibility was the poor believers in Jerusalem. In Romans 15:25, Paul says he goes unto Jerusalem to minister to the saints, and Les clarifies this ministry was not preaching to the Jews but financial help. Verse 26 names Macedonia and Achaia as those who made the contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Les notes this is the same area his Corinthian letters deal with. Verse 27 says it pleased them verily, and they were debtors, meaning the Greeks in Achaia and Macedonia were not out in left field by giving offerings to these Jews at Jerusalem; it was apropos and as God intended.
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
More Questions
How did the poor Greek believers give to the Jerusalem saints?
Even though the Macedonian and Achaian believers were poverty stricken, they gave of what they had so Paul could take the offering to the poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem.