Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 24:11

"Seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:" — Acts 24:11 (ASV)

In refuting the charges against him, Paul dealt with each in turn. First, it was “no more than twelve days ago” that he came to Jerusalem, not for political agitation but for worship. In such a short time, he implied, there would hardly have been sufficient opportunity to foment a revolt. Second, his accusers could hardly charge him with being a ringleader of any sedition, for he was alone when they arrested him in the temple and they could not cite any time when he was stirring up a crowd anywhere in the city (v.12). Third, their claim that he desecrated the temple was unproved because it was entirely without foundation (v.13).