Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction.
Paul had mastered contentment in bonds, yet he honors them for their gift as a true sharing in his sufferings for Christ's sake. Their liberality to him then and now, when no other church aided him, shows the rule between pastor and people: those who labor in the Word deserve maintenance, not as favor but as debt, and their giving bears fruit unto their account in the day of judgment.
AI summary
He here guards against their thinking from what he has just said, that he makes light of their bounty. ye did communicate with my affliction--that is, ye made yourselves sharers with me in my present affliction, namely, by sympathy; of which sympathy your contribution is the proof.
He reassures them lest they think him ungrateful or lest they grow slack in giving to him or others. Yes, he could suffer want and do all things through Christ's strength; but communicating to poor saints and ministers is genuine good work, done in faith and love and to Christ's honor. They did well.
AI summary