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During this last tour we know for certain that Paul wrote I & II Corinthians and
Romans. Let us turn to these for further information. In I Cor. Paul gives instructions
concerning a collection for the saints:--
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of
Galatia, even so do ye . . . . . And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your
letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I
go also, they shall go with me" (I Cor. 16: 1-4).
All we know of the order given to the churches of Galatia is that word from the elders
of Jerusalem: "Remember the poor." This order is now sent to the Corinthians in view
of Paul's coming to them on his way to Jerusalem. "Now I will come unto you, when I
shall pass through Macedonia, for I do pass through Macedonia" (I Cor. 16: 5).
Having passed through Macedonia, Paul writes to Corinth again in prospect of the
near approach of his expected visit. What had been Paul's business in Macedonia?
"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches
of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality: for to their power I bear record,
yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much
intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering
of the saints" (II Cor. 8: 1-4).
Evidently Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians had stirred them up to give generously,
so that he could set them as an example to the Macedonia:--
"For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
for I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia,
that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many"
(II Cor. 9: 1, 2).
The Macedonians had exceeded Paul's expectations (II Cor. 8: 5). In the event,
therefore, of some of the Macedonians coming with him to Corinth he writes again:--
"Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf;
that, as I said, ye may be ready: lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find
you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed at this same confident
boasting" (II Cor. 9: 3, 4).
Brethren were sent before to prepare for Paul's coming (II Cor. 8: 6, 17-19; 9: 3-5),
which accords with Acts 19: 22.
The only church in Macedonia to which Paul wrote an epistle is that of Thessalonica,
which appears to have been most progressive church in that part (I Thee. 1: 7, 8; 4: 10).
No mention of this collection is made in either epistle, for both were written before
Acts 17: 21, but there is a connection between them and the believers in Judæa:--
"For ye became followers of the churches of God in Judæa" (I Thess. 2: 14).