SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:17
Pero pasados muchos aos, vine a hacer limosnas a mi nacin, y ofrendas,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 24:17
Verse 17. Now, after many years, &c.] And as a full proof that I act according to the dictates of this Divine and beneficent creed, though I have been many years absent from my own country, and my political relation to it is almost necessarily dissolved, yet, far from coming to disturb the peace of society, or to injure any person, I have brought ALMS to my nation, the fruits of my own earning and influence among a foreign people, and OFFERINGS to my God and his temple, proving hereby my attachment to my country, and my reverence for the worship of my country's God.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Now after many years , etc.] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 10-21 - Paul gives a just account of himself, which clears him from crime, an likewise shows the true reason of the violence against him. Let u never be driven from any good way by its having an ill name. It is very comfortable, in worshipping God, to look to him as the God of ou fathers, and to set up no other rule of faith or practice but the Scriptures. This shows there will be a resurrection to a fina judgment. Prophets and their doctrines were to be tried by their fruits. Paul's aim was to have a conscience void of offence. His car and endeavour was to abstain from many things, and to abound in the exercises of religion at all times; both towards God. and towards man If blamed for being more earnest in the things of God than ou neighbours, what is our reply? Do we shrink from the accusation? Ho many in the world would rather be accused of any weakness, nay, even of wickedness, than of an earnest, fervent feeling of love to the Lor Jesus Christ, and of devotedness to his service! Can such think that He will confess them when he comes in his glory, and before the angels of God? If there is any sight pleasing to the God of our salvation, and sight at which the angels rejoice, it is, to behold a devoted followe of the Lord, here upon earth, acknowledging that he is guilty, if it be a crime, of loving the Lord who died for him, with all his heart, an soul, and mind, and strength. And that he will not in silence see God' word despised, or hear his name profaned; he will rather risk the ridicule and the hatred of the world, than one frown from that graciou Being whose love is better than life.
Greek Textus Receptus
δι 1223 PREP ετων 2094 N-GPN δε 1161 CONJ πλειονων 4119 A-GPN-C παρεγενομην 3854 5633 V-2ADI-1S ελεημοσυνας 1654 N-APF ποιησων 4160 5694 V-FAP-NSM εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN εθνος 1484 N-ASN μου 3450 P-1GS και 2532 CONJ προσφορας 4376 N-APF
Robertson's NT Word Studies
24:17 {After many years} (di' etwn pleionwn). "At an interval (dia) of more (pleionwn) years" (than a few, one must add), not "after many years." If, as is likely Paul went up to Jerusalem in #Ac 18:22, that was some five years ago and would justify "pleion"n" (several years ago or some years ago). {To bring alms} (eleemosunas poieson). Another (see proskuneswn in verse #11) example of the future participle of purpose in the N.T. These "alms" (on eleemosunas see on Mt 6:1,4; Ac 10:2, common in Tobit and is in the papyri) were for the poor saints in Jerusalem (#1Co 16:1-4; 2Co 8; 9; Ro 15:26) who were none the less Jews. "And offerings" (kai prosforas). The very word used in #21:26 of the offerings or sacrifices made by Paul for the four brethren and himself. It does not follow that it was Paul's original purpose to make these "offerings" before he came to Jerusalem (cf. #18:18). He came up to worship (verse #11) and to be present at Pentecost (#20:16).
