In the days of the apostles, men went everywhere preaching the word. New churches were raised up. Their love and zeal for Christ led them to acts of great denial and sacrifice. Many of these Gentile churches were very poor, yet the apostle declares that their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. Their gifts were extended beyond their ability to give. Men periled their lives and suffered the loss of all things for the truth’s sake. {3T 413.1}

I apostlenes dage, gik mændene overalt og forkyndte ordet. Nye menigheder blev oprejst. Deres kærlighed og nidkærhed for Kristus ledte dem til store selvfornægtelses- og opofrelseshandlinger. Mange af disse hedenske menigheder var meget fattige, alligevel erklærede apostlene at deres dybe fattigdom fandtes i store mængder i deres gavmildheds rigdomme. Deres gaver rakte til mere end deres evne til at give. Mennesker satte deres liv på spil og led tab på alt for sandhedens skyld.