Acts 24:18

18 It was while making those offerings that they found me quietly at my prayers in the Temple. There was no crowd, there was no disturbance.

Acts 24:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 24:18

Whereupon
Or "among which"; while the apostle was busy about the offerings of the Nazarites:

certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple;
and therefore could not be said to profane it; this he observes in answer to the charge of his attempting to profane it, and acquaints the governor how that was; as that having joined himself to four men that had a vow upon them, and being in the temple purifying himself with them, certain Jews that came from Ephesus, in Asia, who knew him there, and had a pique against him, found him here; not profaning the temple, as they pretended, but acting according to the worship and service of it; and that,

neither with a multitude;
for there were but four men with him;

nor with tumult;
making any noise and riot, or stirring up persons to sedition and rebellion.

Acts 24:18 In-Context

16 "Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do.
17 I've been out of the country for a number of years and now I'm back. While I was away, I took up a collection for the poor and brought that with me, along with offerings for the Temple.
18 It was while making those offerings that they found me quietly at my prayers in the Temple. There was no crowd, there was no disturbance.
19 It was some Jews from around Ephesus who started all this trouble. And you'll notice they're not here today. They're cowards, too cowardly to accuse me in front of you.
20 "So ask these others what crime they've caught me in. Don't let them hide behind this smooth-talking Tertullus.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.