Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Luke gives this report as historical fact; something that was very familiar to his readers. It validates the report and also allows us to place the event in historical context, as before a famine which occurred about 45-47AD. It also assists in dating the writing of Acts as sometime after the reign of Claudius.

This prophecy took place less than ten years after the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. Think of the explosive growth of the faith that took place in that short period. Christianity was already moving far beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria; on to the ends of the earth (Acts1:8) A blink of the eye in the span of history.

Today's readings in the Psalms:

Morning: Psalm 84

Mid-day: 119:105-112

Evening: Psalm 10

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