The Acts of the Apostles, the history of the early church, by Luke the physician - Acts 11:27-30 comments: a widespread famine

 

Acts 11:27 ¶  And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28  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. 29  Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30  Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

 

Roman writer Dio Cassius does refer to a severe famine in Claudius’ reign as much of the necessary foodstuff for Rome had to be imported, with Egypt being an important contributor of wheat. A general famine was devastating all around. Josephus, the Jewish general who allied himself with Roman general and future emperor, Titus, wrote of a famine in Judea in his Antiquities of the Jews. Claudius Caesar reigned from AD41 to 54, according to sources I read, although it is not an exact science lining up alleged dates in ancient history.

 

Here then is an example of churches helping each other which is an important practice for the New Testament church. Barnabas and Saul are sent to deliver this offering to the suffering Christians in Judea where the famine was particularly bad.