Acts 24:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—

NIV: I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.

NASB: in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia—

CSB: While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.

NLT: My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.

KJV: Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

NKJV: in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.

Paul is on trial before the governor, Felix, in Caesarea Maritima. Representatives of the Sanhedrin are accusing Paul of several things including stirring up riots, leading a cult, and trying to profane the temple (Acts 24:5–6). Paul has pointed out they have no evidence for the claim that he starts riots and that he follows the Jewish Scriptures, just with a slightly different interpretation (Acts 24:11–16). Here, he addressed the third charge.

He had arrived in Jerusalem twelve days earlier with friends from modern-day Turkey and Greece who accompanied the gifts of their churches to the church in Jerusalem. One of these friends was a man named Trophimus from the city of Ephesus in the province of Asia in the southwest corner of modern-day Turkey. Paul accompanied Trophimus and the others to see James, the half-brother of Jesus and the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, to deliver the donations (Acts 20:4; 21:18; Romans 15:25–26).

While there, James and the elders asked Paul if the rumors were true: that he taught Jewish Jesus-followers not to follow the Mosaic law and circumcise their sons. Paul denied the rumors. The elders were relieved and asked Paul to show his devotion to the Mosaic law by helping four men complete a religious vow. Paul agreed (Acts 21:20–26).

A few days later, Paul went to the temple for the completion of the vow. Jews from Asia saw him there and, having seen him with Trophimus earlier, assumed he had brought the Gentile into the temple—a crime against both the Mosaic and Roman laws. They grabbed Paul, dragged him from the temple, and started beating him. Other visitors to the temple joined in the violence without any idea what Paul had done. The Roman army commander had to break up the melee and rescue Paul (Acts 21:27–36).

Despite the Sanhedrin's claims, Paul didn't start the riot and he didn't try to desecrate the temple. Trophimus wasn't there—and neither were the representatives of the Sanhedrin. The men from Asia weren't there, either. In fact, no one in Caesarea witnessed Paul commit a crime (Acts 24:19–20). The charges are baseless, and Paul is innocent.

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.