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Acts 24:17

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.

Acts 24:17 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
The Message Bible (MSG)
17 I've been out of the country for a number of years and now I'm back. While I was away, I took up a collection for the poor and brought that with me, along with offerings for the Temple.
American Standard Version (ASV)
17 Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
17 After many years I have come back to my people and brought gifts for the poor and offerings [for God].
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
17 "I was away for several years. Then I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for those who were poor. I also came 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 have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.
18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.
19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Acts 11:29,30; Ro 15:25-28,31; 1Co 16:1-4,15; 2 Corinthians 8:1-4; Galatians 2:10
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