Acts 24:20

Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

Or else ^{G2228} let ^{G2036} these ^{G846} same ^{G3778} here say ^{G2036}, if ^{G1536} they have found ^{G2147} any ^{G1536} evil doing ^{G92} in ^{G1722} me ^{G1698}, while I ^{G3450} stood ^{G2476} before ^{G1909} the council ^{G4892},

Or else, let these men themselves say what crime they found me guilty of when I stood in front of the Sanhedrin,

Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when I stood before the council,

Context

This verse is part of Apostle Paul's defense before Governor Felix in Caesarea. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and subsequently brought to Caesarea after a plot to kill him was uncovered. The Jewish high priest Ananias, elders, and an orator named Tertullus had presented their case against Paul, accusing him of being a troublemaker, a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes, and attempting to profane the temple (Acts 24:5-6). In this particular verse, Paul is challenging his accusers to provide concrete evidence of any wrongdoing during his previous appearance before the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) in Jerusalem, a scene detailed in Acts chapter 23. He highlights the absence of specific, verifiable charges against him.

Key Themes

Paul's Integrity and Innocence: Paul boldly asserts his blameless conduct, challenging his accusers to point out any actual crime. This underscores his consistent message that his actions were not criminal but related to his faith in Christ.
The Burden of Proof: Paul effectively shifts the burden of proof back to his accusers, demonstrating that their accusations were vague and lacked specific evidence of "evil doing." This is a crucial element of a fair trial.
False Accusation and Persecution: The verse illustrates the pattern of false accusations and unjust persecution faced by early Christians, particularly Paul, as they spread the Gospel. The charges were often rooted in religious jealousy and political expediency rather than actual lawbreaking.
Standing for Truth: Paul's defense is not merely a legal maneuver but a testament to his commitment to the truth of the Gospel, even when facing powerful opposition.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "evil doing" translates the Greek word kakon (κακόν), which signifies something bad, harmful, or wicked. Paul's challenge specifically asks them to identify any kakon they "found" (εὕρον, heuron) during his previous appearance. This emphasizes the lack of any tangible, observed misconduct or criminal act on his part, contrasting sharply with the serious but unsubstantiated charges leveled against him.

Practical Application

Paul's defense in Acts 24:20 offers several lessons for believers today:

Facing Unjust Accusations: Like Paul, we may sometimes face criticism or accusations that are unfounded. This verse encourages us to maintain our integrity and, when appropriate, to calmly and truthfully defend our actions, trusting in God's justice.
Living Blamelessly: Paul's ability to challenge his accusers stemmed from a life lived with a clear conscience before God and man. This serves as a reminder for us to strive for blameless conduct, so that even our enemies cannot find legitimate fault in our character or actions.
The Power of Truth: Despite the power of his accusers, Paul relied on the simple truth. Ultimately, truth prevails, and a clear conscience is a strong defense. This resonates with the broader theme of standing firm in the truth of God's Word, as seen in Ephesians 6:14.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.