Antioch sends famine relief to Jerusalem
The prophet Agabus foretold a great famine, which came in the reign of Claudius. The believers at Antioch sent relief to the brothers in Judea by Barnabas and Saul.
As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea
Acts 11:29 (World English Bible)
Josephus describes a severe famine in Judea in the mid-40s, when Queen Helena of Adiabene bought grain from Egypt for Jerusalem. Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch with John Mark.
Places
Ancient witnesses outside the Bible
Historical sources, not Scripture.
- Antiquities 20.2.5 — Queen Helena buys grain for Jerusalem in the famine
- Antiquities 20.5.2
Dating notes
Ussher: AD 44. Many historians date the relief visit to AD 45–46, when the famine was at its worst. Some identify it with Paul's visit in Galatians 2:1–10.