Acts 24 18

Acts 24:18 kjv

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

Acts 24:18 nkjv

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

Acts 24:18 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.

Acts 24:18 esv

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

Acts 24:18 nlt

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

Acts 24 verses

Acts 24 18 Meaning

The verse states that certain Jews, brought by “certain of the company of the synagogue, which is called the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia,” were not able to successfully refute the charges brought against Paul. This inability to logically counter Paul's defense highlights the effectiveness of Paul's testimony and the weakness of their accusations. It implies that the accusations, likely based on misinterpretations or outright falsehoods, could not stand up to Paul's reasoned defense, particularly within the framework of Roman law that Felix was presiding over.

Acts 24 18 Context

In Acts chapter 24, Paul is on trial before Felix the Roman governor of Caesarea. He has been accused by Jewish leaders from Jerusalem, led by the orator Tertullus. These accusers bring charges of sedition, heresy, and defilement of the temple. Paul delivers a powerful defense, refuting each charge systematically. Verse 18 comes at the conclusion of Paul’s direct rebuttal to the accusations presented by the prosecution. Felix, having heard both sides, finds no grounds for Paul's detention. However, for political reasons, Felix postpones his judgment and continues to hear Paul's case, keeping him imprisoned. The specific group mentioned—the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asians—likely represent a coalition of Jewish diasporic communities within Rome or the wider Roman Empire, many of whom had intellectual and theological grievances against Paul's teachings on gentile inclusion and the resurrection. Their inability to refute Paul's defense points to the soundness of his arguments and the baselessness of their charges from a legal and logical standpoint before a Roman magistrate.

Acts 24 18 Word analysis

• And: (Greek: καί - kai) - A conjunction used to connect clauses or phrases, indicating addition or continuation.
• when: (Greek: ὅτε - hote) - An adverbial conjunction of time, indicating a specific moment or occasion.
• I: (Greek: ἐγώ - egō) - The first-person singular pronoun, referring to Paul.
• had: (Greek: ἔχω - echō) - Used here in a periphrastic construction to form the past perfect tense, signifying an action completed before another past action.
• with: (Greek: ἀπό - apo) - A preposition indicating source or origin, here signifying Paul having collected alms from various places for the Jerusalem church.
• them: (Greek: αὐτῶν - autōn) - The genitive plural pronoun referring to the Jews who brought accusations.
• which: (Greek: οἵτινες - hoitines) - A relative pronoun referring back to the accusers.
• were: (Greek: εἰμί - eimi) - The verb "to be," indicating their state or action.
• brought: (Greek: ἀπάγω - apago) - To lead away or bring forth, often in a legal context.
• by: (Greek: ἀπό - apo) - Again, indicating the agents who brought Paul.
• certain: (Greek: τινες - tines) - Indefinite pronoun, signifying some unspecified individuals among the group.
• of: (Greek: ἐκ - ek) - A preposition indicating origin or belonging.
• the company: (Greek: μέρος - meros) - A part, portion, or section. Here referring to a faction or segment.
• of the synagogue: (Greek: τῆς συναγωγῆς - tēs synagōgēs) - The assembly or meeting place of Jews for worship and study.
• which: (Greek: τῆς - tēs) - Relative pronoun introducing a description of the synagogue.
• is: (Greek: λεγομένη - legomenē from λέγω - legō, to say, call) - The participle meaning "being called" or "called."
• called: (Greek: λεγομένη - legomenē) - Denoting the designation or name given.
• the Libertines: (Greek: τῶν Λιβερτίνων - tōn Libertinōn) - From Latin libertinus, meaning freedmen or emancipated slaves. Likely Jews whose ancestors were freed from Roman slavery.
• and: (Greek: καί - kai)
• of: (Greek: τῶν - tōn)
• the Cyrenians: (Greek: Κυρηναίων - Kurēnaiōn) - Jews from Cyrene, a city in North Africa.
• and: (Greek: καί - kai)
• of the Alexandrians: (Greek: Ἀλεξανδρέων - Alexandreōn) - Jews from Alexandria, a major cultural and intellectual center in Egypt.
• and: (Greek: καί - kai)
• of them: (Greek: τῶν ἀπό - tōn apo) - Those from.
• of Cilicia: (Greek: Κιλικίας - Kilikias) - A region in southeastern Asia Minor. Paul was from Tarsus in Cilicia.
• and: (Greek: καί - kai)
• of Asia: (Greek: Ἀσίας - Asias) - Refers to the Roman province of Asia in western Asia Minor.
• but: (Greek: ἀλλά - alla) - A conjunction used to introduce a contrast or opposition.
• when: (Greek: ὅτε - hote)
• I: (Greek: ἐγώ - egō)
• had: (Greek: προσήγαγον - prosēgagon, from προσάγω - prosagō) - To bring before, present.
• brought: (Greek: προσήγαγον - prosēgagon)
• them: (Greek: αὐτούς - autous) - Them, referring to Paul and possibly others.
• before: (Greek: ἐνώπιον - enōpion) - In the presence of, before.
• the: (Greek: τοῦ - tou)
• council: (Greek: συνεδρίου - synedriou) - The Sanhedrin or the Jewish ruling council.
• neither: (Greek: οὔτε - oute) - Not even; nor.
• could: (Greek: ἠδυνήθησαν - ēdynēthēsan, from δύναμαι - dynamai, to be able) - Third-person plural imperfect passive of dynamai, indicating inability.
• they: (Greek: αὐτοί - autoi) - They.
• convict: (Greek: ἐλέγξαι - elengsai, from ἐλέγχω - elengchō) - To convict, refute, expose, reprove. Aorist infinitive.
• or: (Greek: ἢ - ē) - A conjunction connecting alternatives.
• prove: (Greek: ἀποδεῖξαι - apodeixai, from ἀποδείκνυμι - apodeiknumi) - To prove, demonstrate, establish. Aorist infinitive.
• the things: (Greek: τὰς αἰτίας - tas aitias) - The charges, accusations, causes.
• whereof: (Greek: καθ' ὧν - kath' hōn) - Concerning which, about which.

Phrase/Group Analysis:

• "of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines...": This lengthy genitive phrase identifies the specific individuals by their connection to different groups within the Jewish diaspora, emphasizing their diversity and unity in opposing Paul. It highlights the challenge Paul presented to various segments of the Jewish community.
• "neither could they convince, or prove the things whereof I am accused": This phrase succinctly summarizes the failure of the prosecution. The double Greek verb elengsai (convince/refute) and apodeixai (prove/establish) underlines the thoroughness of their defeat; they couldn't even begin to establish the validity of their claims, let alone convince anyone of them.

Acts 24 18 Bonus section

The mention of specific groups like the Libertines (often linked to Rome's freedmen) and those from prominent intellectual centers like Alexandria, indicates that the opposition to Paul wasn't just a localized Jewish grievance but extended to more learned and possibly influential circles within the Jewish diaspora. Their inability to refute Paul may also be linked to their adherence to interpretations of Jewish law that excluded gentiles or their resistance to the concept of Jesus as Messiah, particularly after the spread of the gospel to the gentiles. This event echoes the confrontation with Stephen in Acts 6:9, where disputants from similar synagogues were also unable to overcome Stephen’s Spirit-filled wisdom. It highlights the ongoing, multifaceted opposition faced by early Christians from established Jewish communities.

Acts 24 18 Commentary

This verse showcases the spiritual and intellectual superiority of Paul's defense against his Jewish accusers. Despite being supported by a coalition of diasporic synagogues (Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asians), these opponents utterly failed to substantiate their charges. The failure isn't merely a legal one but a testament to the unassailable truth of Paul's message. They couldn't "convince" or "prove," indicating a complete lack of evidence and persuasive power for their accusations. This reflects a recurring pattern where opponents of the Gospel often lack sound reasoning and resort to baseless claims, unable to withstand the clarity of God's word and the testimony of His servants. Paul, armed with the truth, stood firm, while his accusers, despite their numbers and organizational strength, were exposed in their falsehood.