With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: ¹ 

Jesus ¹  looked up ²  and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box. ³ 

When you cry out for help, let your idols ¹  help you! The wind blows them all away, ²  a breeze carries them away. ³  But the one who looks to me for help ⁴  will inherit the land and will have access to ⁵  my holy mountain.”

This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends here. ¹ 

Then ¹  he ²  sat down opposite the offering box, ³  and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts.

They did so, ¹  sending their financial aid ²  to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

An edict was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem requiring the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, God’s servant, imposed on Israel in the wilderness. ¹ 

After several years ¹  I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor ²  and to present offerings, ³ 

no bag ¹  for the journey, or an extra tunic, ²  or sandals or staff, ³  for the worker deserves his provisions.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff ¹  – no bread, no bag, ²  no money in their belts –

After ¹  this, Jesus ²  went out and saw a tax collector ³  named Levi ⁴  sitting at the tax booth. ⁵  “Follow me,” ⁶  he said to him.

He ¹  said to them, “Take nothing for your ²  journey – no staff, ³  no bag, ⁴  no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. ⁵ 

For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest, ¹  and said to him, “Why have you not made ²  the Levites collect ³  from Judah and Jerusalem the tax authorized by Moses the Lord’s servant and by the assembly of Israel at the tent containing the tablets of the law?” ⁴ 

“Choose some people ¹  from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. ² 

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. ¹  “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him.

As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. ¹  “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him.

As Jesus ¹  was having a meal ²  in Levi’s ³  home, many tax collectors ⁴  and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.

He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, ¹  this poor widow has put more into the offering box ²  than all the others. ³ 

On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income ¹  and save ²  it to the extent that God has blessed you, ³  so that a collection will not have to be made ⁴  when I come.