Acts 19:37

19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers ¹  nor blasphemers of our goddess. ² 

Acts 25:24

25:24 Then Festus ³  said, “King Agrippa, ⁴  and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace ⁵  petitioned ⁶  me both in Jerusalem ⁷  and here, ⁸  shouting loudly ⁹  that he ought not to live any longer.

[19:37]  ¹ tn Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”

[19:37]  ² sn Nor blasphemers of our goddess. There was no formal crime with which Paul could be charged. He had the right to his religion as long as he did not act physically against the temple. Since no overt act had taken place, the official wanted the community to maintain the status quo on these religious matters. The remarks suggest Paul was innocent of any civil crime.

[25:24]  ³ sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.

[25:24]  ⁴ sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.

[25:24]  ⁵ tn Probably best understood as rhetorical hyperbole. BDAG 825 s.v. πλῆθος 2.b.γ states, “people, populace, population…τὸ πλῆθος the populace…ἅπαν τὸ πλ. τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων Ac 25:24.” However, the actions of the leadership are seen by Luke as representing the actions of the entire nation, so the remark is not inaccurate.

[25:24]  ⁶ tn Or “appealed to” (BDAG 341 s.v. ἐντυγχάνω 1.a).

[25:24]  ⁷ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[25:24]  ⁸ sn Here means “here in Caesarea.”

[25:24]  ⁹ tn Or “screaming.”