(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
They had seen Paul around the city with Trophimus, who was from Ephesus, so they just assumed Paul had brought this non-Jewish guy into the temple with him.
Sometimes people jump to conclusions based on who they've seen you hanging out with.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century AD, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem had strict rules that prohibited Gentiles from entering the inner courts, as this was seen as a serious defilement of the holy space. Paul was spotted in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus who was his companion, and some Jews falsely assumed that Paul had brought him into the restricted Temple area, which ignited a riot and led to Paul's arrest. This event reflects the deep-seated tensions between Jewish traditions and the inclusive message of early Christianity.
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