they begged us for the chance to share in serving the Lord’s people in that way.

再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有份；

再三恳求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的善事上有份；

再三恳求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的善事上有份；

他们恳切地求我们准许他们与有需要的圣徒分享上帝的恩典。

再三恳求我们，准许他们在供应圣徒的事上有分。

用许多乞求的话，恳请我们在对圣徒的服事上给与他们恩准和分享的机会；

再三地求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；

再三懇求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的善事上有份；

再三懇求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的善事上有份；

他們懇切地求我們准許他們與有需要的聖徒分享上帝的恩典。

再三懇求我們，准許他們在供應聖徒的事上有分。

以再三再四的懇請求我們、讓他們將恩惠和團契捐去供應聖徒的需要。

用許多乞求的話，懇請我們在對聖徒的服事上給與他們恩准和分享的機會；

懇求我儕、俾與於供事聖徒之恩、

殷勤求我、納其所捐者、即施濟聖徒之金、

彼殷勤求我與之共事、納其所捐之貲、以濟聖徒、

彼等且再三懇求吾儕、准其同享賑濟聖徒之特恩；

they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—

They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,

begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,

imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints,

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and[ take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

“ I was away for several years. Then I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for those who were poor. I also came to offer sacrifices.

When I arrive, I will send some people with your gift to Jerusalem. They will be people you consider to be good. And I will give them letters that explain who they are.If it seems good for me to go also, they will go with me.

I don’t need to write to you about giving to the Lord’s people.

Now I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the Lord’s people there.The believers in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to take an offering. It was for those who were poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.

You will always have poor people with you. You can help them any time you want to. But you will not always have me.

Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. Naaman stood in front of Elisha. Naaman said,“ Now I know that there is no God anywhere in the whole world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from me.”The prophet answered,“ I serve the Lord. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that I won’t accept a gift from you.” Even though Naaman begged him to take it, Elisha wouldn’t.

In those days the number of believers was growing. The Greek Jews complained about the non- Greek Jews. They said that the widows of the Greek Jews were not being taken care of. They weren’t getting their fair share of food each day.So the 12 apostles gathered all the believers together. They said,“ It wouldn’t be right for us to give up teaching God’s word. And we’d have to stop teaching to wait on tables.Brothers and sisters, choose seven of your men. They must be known as men who are wise and full of the Holy Spirit. We will turn this important work over to them.Then we can give our attention to prayer and to teaching God’s word.”This plan pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen. He was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas were chosen too. The group also chose Nicolas from Antioch. He had accepted the Jewish faith.The group brought them to the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on them.So God’s word spread. The number of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Also, a large number of priests began to obey Jesus’ teachings.

They asked only one thing. They wanted us to continue to remember poor people. That was what I had wanted to do all along.

You know that the first believers in Achaia were from the family of Stephanas. They have spent all their time serving the Lord’s people. Brothers and sisters, I am asking you

“ The King will reply,‘ What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned toward the dead woman. He said,“ Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up.He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive.

Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother.”

“ No, please!” said Jacob.“ If I’ve pleased you, accept this gift from me. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. You have welcomed me so kindly.Please accept the present that was brought to you. God has given me so much. I have everything I need.” Jacob wouldn’t give in. So Esau accepted it.

“ They also will answer,‘ Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and not help you? When did we see you as a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and not help you?’“ He will reply,‘ What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you didn’t do for one of the least important of these, you didn’t do for me.’

That’s because I hear about your love for all God’s people. I also hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus.I pray that what we share by believing will help you understand even more. Then you will completely understand every good thing we share by believing in Christ.

God is fair. He will not forget what you have done. He will remember the love you have shown him. You showed it when you helped his people. And you show it when you keep on helping them.

She must be well known for the good things she does. That includes bringing up children. It includes inviting guests into her home. It includes washing the feet of the Lord’s people. It includes helping those who are in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things.

Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So other people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else.Their hearts will be filled with love for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.

So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.

Pray that I will be kept safe from those in Judea who do not believe. I am taking the offering to Jerusalem. Pray that it will be welcomed by the Lord’s people there.

Along with Titus, we are sending another brother. All the churches praise him for his service in telling the good news.He was also chosen by the churches to go with us as we bring the offering. We are in charge of it. We want to honor the Lord himself. We want to show how ready we are to help.

The believers decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. All of them helped as much as they could.

Suppose someone gives even a cup of cold water to a little one who follows me. What I’m about to tell you is true. That person will certainly be rewarded.”

Jesus saw his mother there. He also saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. Jesus said to his mother,“ Dear woman, here is your son.”He said to the disciple,“ Here is your mother.” From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.

Now I want to deal with the offering of money for the Lord’s people. Do what I told the churches in Galatia to do.

She and her family were baptized. Then she invited us to her home.“ Do you consider me a believer in the Lord?” she asked.“ If you do, come and stay at my house.” She succeeded in getting us to go home with her.