Acts 24:11

Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

Because that thou {G4675} mayest {G1410} understand {G1097}, that {G3754} there are {G1526} yet but {G2228}{G3756} twelve {G1177} days {G2250}{G4119} since {G575}{G3739} I {G3427} went up {G305} to {G1722} Jerusalem {G2419} for to worship {G4352}.

As you can verify for yourself, it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Yerushalayim;

You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:

This verse is part of the Apostle Paul's defense before Governor Felix in Caesarea. He is responding to accusations made by Tertullus and the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem. Paul's point here is to establish a clear, short timeline since his arrival in Jerusalem, making it difficult for the prosecution to prove the extensive activities they claimed he engaged in to incite riots over a prolonged period.

Context

Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem after disturbances arose following his visit to the temple. After being held by the Roman commander Lysias and surviving a plot against his life, he was sent to Caesarea for trial under Governor Felix. The Jewish high priest Ananias, elders, and an orator named Tertullus came down from Jerusalem to present their case against Paul, accusing him of being a plague, a mover of sedition, and a profaner of the temple (see Acts 24:5-6). In Acts 24:10, Felix gives Paul permission to speak, and this verse (Acts 24:11) is where Paul begins to lay out the facts of his recent activities, starting with the precise duration of his stay in Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Defense and Testimony: Paul is presenting his defense, offering a factual account to counter false accusations.
  • Timeline and Chronology: The specific mention of "twelve days" is crucial to his defense, highlighting the limited time he was in Jerusalem and the implausibility of the charges.
  • Religious Observance: Paul emphasizes that his purpose for going to Jerusalem was "for to worship," underscoring the religious, not seditious, nature of his visit.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "for to worship" translates the Greek infinitive proskyneō, which means to prostrate oneself in adoration or homage. Paul's use of this word emphasizes that his primary motivation for being in Jerusalem was devout religious observance, not political agitation or temple desecration.

Commentary and Reflection

Paul's defense is simple yet powerful. By stating clearly that only twelve days had passed since he went up to Jerusalem, he immediately undermines the prosecution's narrative of prolonged, widespread sedition. He implies that in such a short time, it would have been impossible to orchestrate the level of unrest they described. Furthermore, he clarifies his purpose was worship, a legitimate and expected activity for a devout Jew. This verse sets the stage for Paul to detail his actions during those twelve days, showing that he was engaged in peaceful, religious pursuits, not inciting rebellion or profaning holy places. His defense relies on verifiable facts and the truth of his intentions, demonstrating the importance of integrity when facing opposition.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 24:1

    ¶ And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and [with] a certain orator [named] Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

  • Acts 21:18

    And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

  • Acts 21:26

    Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

  • Acts 21:27

    ¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

  • Acts 23:23

    And he called unto [him] two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

  • Acts 23:11

    And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

  • Acts 22:30

    On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from [his] bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

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