16:1
We now come to the final chapter, which begins with instructions for the collection for the Jerusalem churches. We are not told why such a collection was needed, but presumably the church there was experiencing severe hardship, either due to the famine (Acts 11:28) or persecution of the church. 2 Cor 8 and 9 return to this topic, giving much more detail. Churches in Galatia and Macedonia were also contributing, possibly others as well. The instructions that Paul gives here are the same as he gave to the Galatian churches. Note the implication that there was now more than one church in Galatia.
16:2
The money was to be collected in an orderly manner. “On the first day of the week ...” A sum of money was to be set aside. So it was probably collected by the church on a weekly basis. People were to give in accordance with their income. This was so that when Paul arrived there would be no great fuss over the collection, everything would already be in place.
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