Acts 24:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.

NIV: My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.

NASB: And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself.

CSB: They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.

NLT: My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.

KJV: And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

NKJV: And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

Paul is in Caesarea Maritima, on trial before Governor Felix. The high priest and some of the elders have just accused him of several things, including causing riots among Jews all over the Roman Empire. Paul points out that he's only been back for twelve days and he's spent five of those days in Caesarea (Acts 24:1–11). He arrived in Jerusalem to false rumors that he taught Jews they didn't have to circumcise their sons and spent much of his time trying to mitigate the damage and disprove the claims by fulfilling a Jewish custom to show his devotion to the Mosaic law (Acts 21:20–26). The only riot occurred when he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple (Acts 21:27–31). Since Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he's done little besides defending himself against false accusations.

What Paul did manage to do was directly instigate a fight among the Sanhedrin. When he realized they weren't going to listen to his defense, he cried out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial" (Acts 23:6). Most of the Sanhedrin members were Sadducees who didn't believe the dead come back to life. Paul, and the Pharisees in the council, did. The Pharisees and Sadducees got into such an argument the Roman commander had to rescue Paul and take him back to the barracks (Acts 23:1–10).

So, the only "riot" Paul's accusers can accurately identify with Paul is the one that began because they, themselves, foolishly reacted to his words. As the proconsul of Achaia once determined, such disputes are "a matter of questions about words and names and [their] own law" and not the business of the Roman government (Acts 18:14–15).

Acts 24:10–21 is Paul's defense against the Sanhedrin's testimony before Governor Felix. The Sanhedrin's lawyer has accused Paul of starting riots and trying to profane the temple (Acts 24:5–6). Paul points out they have no proof and no witnesses. The issue is about the fact that he follows Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and believes in the resurrection of the dead. Felix, who knows quite a bit about Christianity, understands, but he doesn't want to upset the Jewish leaders, so he keeps Paul in custody for the remainder of his term (Acts 24:27).

Acts 24 covers Paul's trial before Governor Felix. The Sanhedrin claim he is a menace and a cult leader who tried to desecrate the temple. Paul explains the real conflict: he believes in the resurrection of the dead and the Sadducees don't. Felix knows the charges are spurious but doesn't want to upset Jewish leaders. He holds Paul under house arrest, hoping Paul will offer him money and make the inconvenience worth his while.

Acts 24 is a transition period for Paul from freedom to captivity. For several years, he has traveled around Judea, Syria, modern-day Turkey, Macedonia, and Greece, spreading the good news about Jesus' offer of salvation. Through a series of misunderstandings and outright lies, he is now in custody in Caesarea Maritima. He will remain there for two years before demanding his case be sent to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Once he arrives in Rome, he will spend another two years in custody (Acts 28:30). Despite his confinement, his message will reach a king and the household of Nero.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.