Acts 24:17

17 "After being away from Jerusalem for several years, I went there to take some money to my own people and to offer sacrifices. ¹

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 I have the same hope in God that these themselves have, namely, that all people, both the good and the bad, will rise from death.

16 And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and people.

17 "After being away from Jerusalem for several years, I went there to take some money to my own people and to offer sacrifices.

18 It was while I was doing this that they found me in the Temple after I had completed the ceremony of purification. There was no crowd with me and no disorder.

19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there; they themselves ought to come before you and make their accusations if they have anything against me.

Cross References

• 1. 24.17, 18Acts 21.17-28.