and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
Parallel translations
- WEB He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.
- KJV Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
- NKJV He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
- NASB And he even tried to desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.
- NLT Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Tertullus claims Paul tried to desecrate the temple, which is why they seized him. This alleged temple offense is the religious heart of the charge.
Overview
The accusation revisits the false rumor that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple's restricted courts (Acts 21:28-29), a capital offense under Jewish law. In truth Paul had come to worship and was ceremonially pure. The charge twists Paul's reverence for God into sacrilege, illustrating how the gospel's messengers are slandered with the very crimes they did not commit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Acts 24:12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
- Acts 23:10–15The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- John 18:31“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
- Acts 21:27–32When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,
- Acts 19:37For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
- John 19:7–8“We have a law,” answered the Jews, “and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.”
- Acts 22:23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 24:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.