“ 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.

过了几年，我带着周济本国的捐项和供献的物上去。

过了几年，我带着周济本国的捐项和供物上去。

过了几年，我带着周济本国的捐项和供物上去。

“我离开耶路撒冷已有多年，这次回来是带着捐款要周济同胞，并献上祭物。

过了几年我带着捐款回来周济本国，同时也带了祭物，

过了好几年，我回来了，带着给我同胞的施舍，以及供物；

過了幾年，我帶着賙濟本國的捐項和供獻的物上去。

過了幾年，我帶着賙濟本國的捐項和供物上去。

過了幾年，我帶着賙濟本國的捐項和供物上去。

「我離開耶路撒冷已有多年，這次回來是帶著捐款要賙濟同胞，並獻上祭物。

過了幾年我帶著捐款回來賙濟本國，同時也帶了祭物，

過了這好幾年，我來這裏、對我國行施捨並獻供物。

過了好幾年，我回來了，帶著給我同胞的施捨，以及供物；

今歷多年、我攜周濟我邦之資、及所獻之禮而歸、

我不至猶太有年矣、今來、以施濟祭物、與我國民、

歷多年後、我方歸、以施濟本國之民、又欲獻祭、

我未來此京有年矣、今番來此、原為齎款賑濟國人且獻禮以還願。

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

Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

“ After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.

After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.

Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings,

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

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

After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,

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

After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings,

Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

They asked only one thing. They wanted us to continue to remember poor people. That was what I had wanted to do all along.

Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the churches in Macedonia.They have suffered a great deal. But in their suffering, their joy was more than full. Even though they were very poor, they gave very freely.I tell you that they gave as much as they could. In fact, they gave even more than they could. Completely on their own,they begged us for the chance to share in serving the Lord’s people in that way.

Now I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the Lord’s people there.The believers in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to take an offering. It was for those who were poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.They were happy to do it. And of course they owe it to them. The Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings. So the Gentiles should share their earthly blessings with the Jews.I want to finish my task. I want to make sure that the poor in Jerusalem have received this offering. Then I will go to Spain. On my way I will visit you.

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. He didn’t want to spend time in Asia Minor. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem. If he could, he wanted to be there by the day of Pentecost.

The believers decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. All of them helped as much as they could.They sent their gift to the elders through Barnabas and Saul.

You know the grace shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, he became poor to help you. Because he became poor, you can become rich.

Now I want to deal with the offering of money for the Lord’s people. Do what I told the churches in Galatia to do.On the first day of every week, each of you should put some money away. The amount should be in keeping with how much money you make. Save the money so that you won’t have to take up an offering when I come.When I arrive, I will send some people with your gift to Jerusalem. They will be people you consider to be good. And I will give them letters that explain who they are.If it seems good for me to go also, they will go with me.

I don’t need to write to you about giving to the Lord’s people.I know how much you want to help. I have been bragging about it to the people in Macedonia. I have been telling them that since last year you who live in Achaia were ready to give. You are so excited that it has stirred up most of them to take action.

So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. Night and day I warned each of you with tears.

The next day Paul took the men with him. They all made themselves pure and“ clean” in the usual way. Then Paul went to the temple. There he reported the date when the days of cleansing would end. At that time the proper offering would be made for each of them.

Pray that I will be kept safe from those in Judea who do not believe. I am taking the offering to Jerusalem. Pray that it will be welcomed by the Lord’s people there.

Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.