Charles Ellicott Commentary Philippians 4:14

"Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction." — Philippians 4:14 (ASV)

You have done well.—Properly, you did well, in sending the offerings. In this, says St. Paul, they did communicate with his affliction, that is , they made it their own, helping him to bear it, by sympathy and sacrifice for his sake. The whole is an illustration of his own words (Acts 20:35), It is blessed to receive what is lovingly given; but it is rather blessed to give. He had the lower blessedness, they the higher; and he rejoiced that it was so.