2:10a

They only asked us: This clause means that James, Peter, and John had only one request for Paul and Barnabas. It implies that they did not add anything to Paul’s message.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

They asked only one thing (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They requested only (NET Bible)
-or-

?When they welcomed us as partners,? they only told us one other thing

Here the word asked does not mean “asked a question.”

to remember the poor: This clause means “remember to help the poor.” The phrase the poor refers to the poor Jewish Christians living in Jerusalem. At that time, they were having a difficult time getting enough food.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to remember to help the poor (New Century Version)
-or-
remember the needy in their group (Good News Translation)
-or-
that we should not forget to help the poor ?Jewish believers in Jerusalem?

2:10b

the very thing I was eager to do: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was eager means “make every effort” or “work hard.” Paul wanted to continue to help the poor, as he had done in the past. In your translation, do not imply that Paul only began to help the poor after the Jerusalem leaders welcomed him as a partner.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

This was the same thing that I had always worked hard to do.
-or-
This is what I wanted to continue to do.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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