Acts 24:12
What does Acts 24:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 24:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 24:12 means
Paul denies that he was disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple, in synagogues, or in the city. This directly answers the claim that he is an instigator of unrest. His behavior was peaceable, not inflammatory. The locations he names cover sacred, communal, and public spaces, indicating he acted properly in every sphere. By stating what did not happen where it could have, Paul narrows the issue to what can be proven. He aims to show that his opponents’ case rests on accusation without corroboration.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they have not seen me in argument with any man in the Temple, or working up the feelings of the people, in the Synagogues or in the town:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or causing any concourse of the people: neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
Context
Following the timeline in verse 11, Paul now addresses the substance of the civil charge: disturbance and sedition. Verse 12 answers that head-on, clearing him in temple, synagogue, and city. Verse 13 will underline the absence of proof. After establishing his innocence in conduct, Paul will confess his faith in verse 14, explaining that his worship of the God of their fathers through the Way is faithful to the Law and the Prophets and marked by hope in resurrection (verse 15).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 24:5
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
- Acts 28:17
And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:
- Acts 25:8
while Paul said in his defence, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Cæsar, have I sinned at all.
- Acts 24:18
amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia—
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