Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
The verse belongs to Paul's trial at Caesarea before Felix, held five days after his arrival there, when his accusers came down from Jerusalem with the hired orator Tertullus, Paul was brought before the assembly for a speedy hearing, and Tertullus opened with flattering praise of Felix for the quietness and worthy deeds done for the nation. In that setting Paul was refuting the charges of sedition and profaning the temple. After an absence of many years he had come to Jerusalem to bring alms and aid for his people and nation, with offerings.
While doing so, certain Jews from Asia found him in the temple in a purified state, with neither multitude nor tumult, without a crowd or disturbance. This proves he caused no tumult in Jerusalem and did not desecrate or profane the sanctuary, so his presence there was no evidence that he had stirred up trouble. Those Jews from Asia who found him should themselves have appeared to state their case if they had anything against him. In the trial context, the accusations against him were not supported by proof of wrongdoing.
After this defense Paul remained imprisoned while Jewish leaders continued seeking his death, and Festus later refused to sacrifice justice to their demands.
The verse belongs to Paul's trial at Caesarea before Felix, held five days after his arrival there, when his accusers came down from Jerusalem with the hired orator Tertullus, Paul was brought before the assembly for a speedy hearing, and Tertullus opened with flattering praise of Felix for the quietness and worthy deeds done for the nation. In that setting Paul was refuting the charges of sedition and profaning the temple. After an absence of many years he had come to Jerusalem to bring alms and aid for his people and nation, with offerings.
While doing so, certain Jews from Asia found him in the temple in a purified state, with neither multitude nor tumult, without a crowd or disturbance. This proves he caused no tumult in Jerusalem and did not desecrate or profane the sanctuary, so his presence there was no evidence that he had stirred up trouble. Those Jews from Asia who found him should themselves have appeared to state their case if they had anything against him. In the trial context, the accusations against him were not supported by proof of wrongdoing.
After this defense Paul remained imprisoned while Jewish leaders continued seeking his death, and Festus later refused to sacrifice justice to their demands.