The Meaning of Acts 24:17 Explained

Acts 24:17

KJV: Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.

YLT: 'And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

Darby: And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.

ASV: Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  after  many  years  I came  to bring  alms  to  my  nation,  and  offerings. 

What does Acts 24:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 24:17-27 - A Trembling But Venal Judge
The case had broken down. Paul's statement of faith and the absence of confirmatory evidence directly contradicted the only charge against him. Felix dared not hand over Paul as guilty, and he was equally unwilling to offend the high priest's party; so he postponed his decision. In the meantime Paul's custody was not to be severe. His friends might freely see him, and the long hours were doubtless lightened by visits from Luke and Aristarchus, Philip the evangelist, and other members of the local Christian community.
At first the governor was prepossessed in Paul's favor. He had some intimate knowledge concerning the tenets of the early Church, Acts 24:22. He had studied it as an intellectual system, and was interested to have opportunity for conversation with its foremost exponent. But his illicit union with Drusilla, whose husband was living, and his hope to receive a bribe from Paul's friends, made him obtuse and dead to the claims of Christ. Paul, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to any thought of himself or of his dependence on the governor's whim, and used his one opportunity in seeking the salvation of this weak and sordid soul. It was in vain. Felix was anchored to a mudbank and would not avail himself of the rising tides of life about him. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 24

1  Paul being accused by Tertullus the orator,
10  answers for his life and doctrine
24  He preaches Christ to the governor and his wife
26  The governor hopes for a bribe, but in vain
27  Felix, succeeded by Festus, leaves Paul in prison

Greek Commentary for Acts 24:17

After many years [δι ετων πλειονων]
“At an interval (δια — dia) of more (πλειονων — pleionōn) years” (than a few, one must add), not “after many years.” If, as is likely Paul went up to Jerusalem in Acts 18:22, that was some five years ago and would justify “πλειονων — pleionōn ” (several years ago or some years ago). [source]
To bring alms [ελεημοσυνας ποιησον]
Another (see προσκυνησων — proskunēsōn in Acts 24:11) example of the future participle of purpose in the N.T. These “alms” (on ελεημοσυνας — eleēmosunas See Matthew 6:1, Matthew 6:4, and note on Acts 10:2, common in Tobit and is in the papyri) were for the poor saints in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Romans 15:26) who were none the less Jews. “And offerings” The very word used in Acts 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. Acts 18:18). He came up to worship (Acts 24:11) and to be present at Pentecost (Acts 20:16). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 24:17

Acts 21:27 The seven days [αι επτα ημεραι]
For which Paul had taken the vow, though there may be an allusion to the pentecostal week for which Paul had desired to be present (Acts 20:16). There is no necessary connexion with the vow in Acts 18:15. In Acts 24:17 Paul makes a general reference to his purpose in coming to Jerusalem to bring alms and offerings Paul spent seven days in Troas (Acts 20:6), Tyre (Acts 21:4), and had planned for seven here if not more. It was on the last of the seven days when Paul was completing his offerings about the vows on all five that the incident occurred that was to make him a prisoner for five years. [source]
Acts 24:22 Having more exact knowledge [ακριβεστερον ειδως]
“Knowing” (second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida) “more accurately” (comparative of adverb ακριβως — akribōs). More accurately than what? Than the Sanhedrin supposed he had “concerning the Way” How Felix had gained this knowledge of Christianity is not stated. Philip the Evangelist lived here in Caesarea and there was a church also. Drusilla was a Jewess and may have told him something. Besides, it is wholly possible that Felix knew of the decision of Gallio in Corinth that Christianity was a religio licita as a form of Judaism. As a Roman official he knew perfectly well that the Sanhedrin with the help of Tertullus had failed utterly to make out a case against Paul. He could have released Paul and probably would have done so but for fear of offending the Jews whose ruler he was and the hope that Paul (note “alms” in Acts 24:17) might offer him bribes for his liberty. [source]
Acts 24:26 He hoped withal [αμα και ελπιζων]
“At the same time also hoping.” Paul had mentioned the “alms” (Acts 24:17) and that excited the avarice of Felix for “money” Roman law demanded exile and confiscation for a magistrate who accepted bribes, but it was lax in the provinces. Felix had doubtless received them before. Josephus (Ant. XX. 8, 9) represents Felix as greedy for money. [source]
Acts 28:19 I was constrained [ηναγκαστην]
“I was compelled,” first aorist passive indicative of αναγκαζω — anagkazō the very word used of Paul‘s efforts to get the Christians to blaspheme (Acts 26:11) which see. Paul was compelled to appeal to Caesar (See note on Acts 25:11, and note on Acts 25:12 for this phrase), unless Paul was willing to be the victim of Jewish hate when he had done no wrong. Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of (ουχ ως του ετνους μου εχων τι κατηγορειν — ouch hōs tou ethnous mou echōn ti katēgorein). This use of ως — hōs with a participle (εχων — echōn) is common in Greek for the alleged reason. The genitive case with the infinitive κατηγορειν — katēgorein is regular. Paul says ετνος — ethnos instead of λαος — laos as in Acts 24:17; Acts 26:4. [source]
Acts 28:19 Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of [ουχ ως του ετνους μου εχων τι κατηγορειν]
This use of ως — hōs with a participle (εχων — echōn) is common in Greek for the alleged reason. The genitive case with the infinitive κατηγορειν — katēgorein is regular. Paul says ετνος — ethnos instead of λαος — laos as in Acts 24:17; Acts 26:4. [source]
1 Corinthians 16:1 Collection [λογίας]
Peculiar to the New Testament, and occurring only here and 1 Corinthians 16:2. The classical word is συλλόγη , Vulg., collecta, which latter is also used of the assemblies in which the collections took place. From λέγω to collect. For such material ministries Paul uses a variety of words; as χάρις bounty 1 Corinthians 16:3; κοινωνία contribution Romans 15:26; εὐλογία . blessing, 2 Corinthians 9:5; λειτουπγία ministration 2 Corinthians 9:12; ἐλεημοσύναι alms Acts 24:17. The word ἔρανος was used by the Greeks to denote a feast of contribution or picnic; a club for mutual relief, and a contribution, made as a club-subscription, or for the support of the poor. [source]
Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years after [διὰ δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν]
Rev. after the space of fourteen years. Comp. δἰ ἐτῶν πλειόνων afterseveral years, Acts 24:17; δἰ ἡμερῶν after(some) days, Mark 2:1. Διὰ means after, that is, a given number of years being interposed between two points of time. Not, in the course of (Rev. marg.). [source]
Galatians 2:10 The poor [τῶν πτωχῶν]
The poor Christians of Palestine. Comp. Acts 24:17; Romans 15:26, Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 9:1. For the word, see on Matthew 5:3. In lxx ordinarily of those who are oppressors, or of those who are quiet in contrast with the lawless. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 24:17 mean?

After years now many alms to bring to the nation of me I arrived and offerings
Δι’ ἐτῶν δὲ πλειόνων ἐλεημοσύνας ποιήσων εἰς τὸ ἔθνος μου παρεγενόμην καὶ προσφοράς

Δι’  After 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἐτῶν  years 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ἔτος  
Sense: year.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πλειόνων  many 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural, Comparative
Root: πολύς  
Sense: greater in quantity.
ἐλεημοσύνας  alms 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐλεημοσύνη  
Sense: mercy, pity.
ποιήσων  to  bring 
Parse: Verb, Future Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἔθνος  nation 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
παρεγενόμην  I  arrived 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: παραγίνομαι  
Sense: to be present, to come near, approach.
προσφοράς  offerings 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: προσφορά  
Sense: the act of offering, a bringing to.