Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 24:12
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:
12. And they neither found me, &c.] The Apostle gives a flat denial to the charge of insurrection, and challenges them to prove any single point of it. He had not even entered into discussion with any man.
raising up the people ] Rev. Ver. “stirring up a crowd.” For the crowd was gathered by the Jews.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And they neither found me … – The first charge of Tertullus against Paul was Act 24:5 that he was a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition. The charge of his being a Test was so general that Paul did not think it necessary to attempt to refute it. To the specification that he was a mover of sedition, he replies by a firm denial, and by a solemn declaration that they had not found him in any synagogue, or in the city, or in the temple, either disputing or exciting a tumult. Pits conduct there had been entirely peaceable, and they had no right to suppose that it had been otherwise anywhere.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Disputing, or discoursing. Although it seems not to have been unlawful, after the sacrifices were offered, to discourse about the meaning of any place in the law or the prophets; for thus our Saviour is said to have heard and asked questions of the doctors in the temple, Luk 2:46; yet St. Paul would hereby show how far he was from doing aught that was unlawful, in that he had forborne to go to the utmost of what might have been lawful.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12, 13. they neither found me . . .Neither can they prove the things, &c.After specifyingseveral particulars, he challenges proof of any one of the chargesbrought against him. So much for the charge of sedition.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man,…. Either about civil or religious affairs: not that it was criminal to dispute in the temple; it was a common thing for the doctors to dispute about matters of religion, in the porches, and courts, and chambers of the temple, as it may be observed they often did with Christ; but the apostle mentions this to show, that he was so far from moving sedition among the people of the Jews, that he never so much as entered into any conversation with them, upon any subject whatever: true indeed, he was in the temple, and was found there, but not disputing with any, but purifying himself according to the law of Moses:
neither raising up the people; stirring them up to sedition, and tumult, to rebel against the Roman government:
neither in the synagogues; where there were the greatest concourse of people, and the best opportunity of sowing seditious principles, and of which there were many in the city of Jerusalem. The Jews say p there were four hundred and sixty synagogues in Jerusalem; some say q four hundred and eighty:
nor in the city; of Jerusalem, in any of the public streets or markets, where there were any number of people collected together; the apostle mentions the most noted and public places, where any thing of this kind might most reasonably be thought to be done.
p T. Hieros. Cetubot, fol. 35. 3. q Ib. Megilla, fol. 73. 4.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Disputing (). Simply conversing, discussing, arguing, and then disputing, common verb in old Greek and in N.T. (especially in Acts).
Stirring up a crowd ( ). is a late word from , to make an onset or rush. Only twice in the N.T., 2Co 11:28 (the pressure or care of the churches) and here (making a rush of a crowd). The papyri give examples also for “onset.” So Paul denies the two charges that were serious and the only one that concerned Roman law (insurrection).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And they neither found me in the temple,” (kai oute to hiero heuron me) “And they (who accuse me) neither found me in the temple;” He didn’t have to be “found.” He was there with others to worship, not incite trouble.
2) “Disputing with any man.” (pros tina dialegomenon) “Discouraging or disputing with anyone,” seeking to stir up a controversy or argument with anyone, nor can they produce such a witness, or they would have. He was in the temple, but not teaching, Act 21:26-27.
3) “Neither raising up the people,” (he epistasin poiounta ochlou) “Nor did they find me collecting or causing to come together a crowd,” to incite sedition against my nation, in any manner, nor have they or can they produce a single witness of such, I categorically assert.
4) “Neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:(outeen tais sunagogais oute kata ten polin) “Neither did they find me in the synagogues or any other place throughout the city,” doing a single thing that they have alleged thru Tertullus: 1) First, that I am a Seditionist; 2) Second, that l am an Heretic, and 3) that I have polluted or desecrated the temple. See Act 25:8; Act 28:17-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
−
12. Disputing with any man. Paul had no need to deny any of these things if he had done them; because he might have answered for himself that it was well done. He had been one of the scribes which disputed daily; neither were they forbidden either by the law or by custom, but that they might assemble themselves together − (576) to be taught. Yea, to this end there were in divers places of the city synagogues, wherein they met together. Moreover, he knew that both Christ and also his apostles had done the same thing. Also he might easily have turned [retorted] back upon his adversaries the crime which they did object to him, who did daily use the very same things. But because he aimeth at no other thing at this present, but to refute the false accusations of his adversaries, and to prove that importunate men had unadvisedly molested him for no cause; he intreateth not of the lawfulness of the fact, (as they say) but only of the fact. And he standeth chiefly upon this point to refute that slander, because he was burdened to be − (577) a raiser of tumults. Therefore he concludeth that he was falsely and unjustly accused; because the adversaries had never proved those things which they had alleged. This ought to have been sufficient to discharge him, seeing he was thus burdened with wicked lies, whereas there rested in him not the very least suspicion that could be devised. −
(576) −
“
Turmatim,” in crowds.
(577) −
“
Delatus fuerat tanquam,” was charged with being.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) They neither found me in the temple . . .The answer traverses all parts of the indictment. He had not even entered into a discussion in the Temple. He had not even gathered a crowd around him in any part of the city. He challenges the accusers to bring any adequate evidencei.e., that of two or three witnesses, independent and agreeingin proof of their charges.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Act 24:12-13 . ] uproar . LXX. Num 26:9 ; Num 17:5 ; Joseph. c. Ap . i. 20.
Both after . and after ( throughout the city ) , is mentally to be supplied.
See examples of , to present, i.e. to make good , to prove , in Kypke, II. p. 121 f.; Morus, ad Longin . p. 43; and from Philo in Loesner, p. 230 f.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
Act 24:12-21 . In the following speech Paul first disclaims the accusations of his opponents generally and on the whole as groundless (Act 24:12-13 ); then gives a justifying explanation of the expression . ., by which they had maliciously wished to bring him into suspicion (Act 24:14-16 ); and lastly refutes the special accusation . (Act 24:17-21 ).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
12 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:
Ver. 12. And they neither found me in the temple ] As he had argued from the circumstance of time, Act 24:11 ; (to disprove their empty allegations), so here of place. It fared with the apostle as the historian saith it did with Cuthbert Tunstal, bishop of Durham, who was sent to the Tower for concealment of (I know not what) treason written to him (I know not by whom), and not discovered until (what shall I call) the party did reveal it. False accusers, as they affirm without reason, so they may be dismissed without refutation: unless we will answer them with a downright denial, as here. It happens often, that plain dealing puts craft out of countenance.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
12. . ] throughout the city , ‘any where in the city;’ as we say, ‘ up and down the streets .’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 24:12 . : step by step he refutes the charge. , cf. Act 24:5 , , a flat denial to the allegation of Tertullus; R.V. reads more plainly: both acts, the disputing and the exciting a tumult, are denied with reference to the Temple, the synagogue, the city. In . there would have been nothing censurable, but even from this the Apostle had refrained. . .: R.V. reads ; the Apostle had been accused as , Act 24:5 ; here is his answer to the charge, they had not found him “stirring up a crowd,” R.V. This rendering however seems to make almost = , a stronger word, cf. Num 26:9 , 1Es 5:73 , conjuratio . In 2Ma 6:3 we have , incursio malorum , Vulgate, but its meaning here would seem to be rather concursus , in the sense of a concourse, an assembly, not an onset or attack; and the phrase expresses that the Apostle had not been guilty of even the least disturbance; not even of causing the assembling of a crowd (see Wendt and Weiss, in loco ), “aut concursum facientem turb,” Vulgate. In 2Co 11:28 it is possible that may be used of the presence of a multitude, almost like , see Grimm-Thayer. : plural, because so many in Jerusalem, cf. Act 6:9 . : Alford renders “up and down the streets,” cf. Luk 8:39 ; Luk 15:14 .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
neither. Greek. oute.
in, in. Greek. en. App-104.
disputing. Greek. dialegomai. See note o Act 17:2.
any man = any one. Greek. tis. App-123.
neither = or.
raising up the people = making up a seditious gathering (Greek. episustasis. Only here and 2Co 11:28) of the multitude (Greek. ochlos).
neither . . . nor. Greek. oute . . . oute.
synagogues App-120.
in = throughout. Greek. kata. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
12. .] throughout the city, any where in the city; as we say, up and down the streets.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 24:12. , in the temple) He hereby refutes Tertullus, Act 24:6. Add Act 24:18.-) A double compound. The people were in crowds in the temple: Paul did not congregate together the crowd [ , to excite a concourse of people].-, in the synagogues) of Jerusalem, ch. Act 26:11.- , in the city) Jerusalem, Act 24:11 : , when followed by the article, has not the distributive force (city by city).
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Act 24:5, Act 25:8, Act 28:17
Reciprocal: Gen 40:15 – done Jdg 11:15 – Israel took Neh 6:8 – There are Psa 35:11 – False witnesses Pro 18:17 – General Joh 18:21 – ask Act 24:6 – gone
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
Act 24:12-13. This paragraph is a general denial of all the charges of disorder made against Paul, and he challenged his accusers to present their testimony.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 24:12. 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. He urges that this accusation of exciting sedition was simply incapable of proof. He takes carefully each of the places of public resort, and disposes of them one by one, challenging his adversaries to traverse, if they can, his statement. Nowhere had he publicly disputed with the hope of exciting a tumultnot in the crowded temple courts, nor in the more retired and quiet synagogue meeting; nor had he gone preaching and speaking up and down [for this is the literal translation of the Greek here] the streets of the capital.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 10
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 12
This is in reply to the charge made by Tertullus. (Acts 24:5.)
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
In response to the third charge (Act 24:6), Paul replied that he had gone to Jerusalem to worship. He had gone to bring money to the Jews there, and to present offerings to Yahweh (Act 24:17), not to stir up political trouble (cf. Gal 2:7-9). His accusers could not prove that he had even carried on a discussion in the temple, or in the synagogues, or even in the city, much less fomented a riot. There was, therefore, no evidence to support these two charges against him.