Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 24:19

"who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me." — Acts 24:19 (ASV)

Who ought to have been here, etc. They were the proper witnesses; as they had stayed away, it showed that they were not prepared to undergo a strict examination. Paul, therefore, justly complains that the very persons who alone could testify against him were absent, and showed that there was really no well-founded charge against him. They alone could testify as to anything that occurred in the temple; and as they were not present, that charge ought to be dismissed.