“Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.”
King James Version (KJV)
24:15 Both of the just and of the unjust - In a public court this was peculiarly proper to be observed.
24:16 For this cause - With a view to this, I also exercise myself - As well as they.
24:19 Who ought to have been present before thee - But the world never commit greater blunders, even against its own laws, than when it is persecuting the children of God.
Ac 24:17 Now after many years I came. Here he begins his reply to the third charge, that of profaning the temple. He came to Jerusalem with the most benevolent motives, to bring alms to my own nation. These were sums of money gathered in the Gentile churches for the poor in Jerusalem. See Ro 15:25-31 1Co 16:1-4 2Co 8:9. And offerings. Such as were customary at the temple. It was while engaged in the preparations for a Nazarite offering that he was seized. He thus accounts for his presence in the temple.