By the Jewish law it was a crime punishable with death for an uncircumcised person to enter the inner courts of the sacred edifice. Paul had been seen in the city in company with Trophimus, an Ephesian, and it was conjectured that he had brought him into the temple. This he had not done; and being himself a Jew, his act in entering the temple was no violation of the law. But though the charge was wholly false, it served to arouse the popular prejudice. As the cry was taken up and borne through the temple courts, the throngs gathered there were thrown into wild excitement. The news quickly spread through Jerusalem, "and all the city was moved, and the people ran together."

Efter jødernes lov var det en forbrydelse, der krævede dødsstraf, hvis en uomskåren gik ind i helligdommens indre gårde. Man havde i byen set Paulus sammen med Trofimus, der var fra Efesus, og man gættede sig til, at han havde taget ham med ind i templet. Han havde ikke gjort dette og da han selv var jøde, var det ingen overtrædelse af loven, at han selv var gået derind. Men skønt beskyldningen var falsk fra først til sidst, lykkedes det ved den at vække folkets fordomme. Da råbet blev gentaget og lød gennem tempelgårdene, blev skarerne, der var samlede dér, vildt ophidsede. Rygtet spredtes hurtigt i Jerusalem, "og hele staden kom i bevægelse, og folket stimlede sammen."