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

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.

“ 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.

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

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;

Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there.For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain.

Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost.

So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem.And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.

Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you— my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

So Paul went to the Temple the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them.

Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem.

So two good things will result from this ministry of giving— the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.