Acts 24:17

17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Yerushalayim to bring a charitable gift to my nation and to offer sacrifices.

Acts 24:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 24:17

Now after many years
Absence from Jerusalem; it was now about five and twenty years since his conversion, and most of this time he spent among the Gentiles; three years after it he went up to Jerusalem, and fourteen years after that, ( Galatians 1:18 ) ( 2:1 ) but it had now been some years since he had been there:

I came to bring alms to my nation;
the collections which were made among the Gentile churches, particularly in Macedonia, for the poor saints at Jerusalem, ( Romans 15:25-27 ) ( 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 ) .

and offerings;
either for the day of Pentecost, according to the usages of that feast, or the offerings on the account of the vow of the Nazarite, ( Acts 21:26 ) . The Vulgate Latin version adds, "and vows"; unless the spiritual and evangelical sacrifices of prayer and praise can be thought to be meant, since the ceremonial law was now abrogated; though it is manifest the apostle did at some times, and in some cases, comply with the Jews in the observance of it, in order to gain some.

Acts 24:17 In-Context

15 And I continue to have a hope in God - which they too accept - that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

16 Indeed, it is because of this that I make a point of always having a clear conscience in the sight of both God and man.

17 "After an absence of several years, I came to Yerushalayim to bring a charitable gift to my nation and to offer sacrifices.

18 It was in connection with the latter that they found me in the Temple. I had been ceremonially purified, I was not with a crowd, and I was not causing a disturbance.

19 But some Jews from the province of Asia - they ought to be here before you to make a charge if they have anything against me!