Those who had counseled Paul to perform this act of concession had not fully considered the great peril to which he would be exposed. At this season, strangers from all regions of the world thronged the streets of Jerusalem, and delighted to congregate in the temple courts. As Paul, in the fulfillment of his commission, had borne the gospel to the Gentiles, he had visited many of the world’s largest cities, and was well known to thousands who came from foreign parts to attend the feast. For him to enter the temple on a public occasion was to risk his life. For several days he passed in and out among the worshipers, apparently unnoticed; but before the close of the specified period, as he was conversing with the priest concerning the sacrifices to be offered, he was recognized by some of the Jews from Asia. These men had been defeated in their controversy with him in the synagogue at Ephesus, and had become more and more enraged against him as they witnessed his success in raising up a Christian church in that city. They now saw him where they had not supposed that he would trust himself,—within the very precincts of the temple. Now he was in their power, and they determined to make him suffer for his boldness. {LP 215.1}

Dem som havde rådført sig med Paulus om at udføre denne lejlighedsvise handling havde ikke helt set den store fare som han udsatte sig for. Ved denne lejlighed fyldte fremmede fra alle verdensdele Jerusalems gader, og glædede sig over at samle sig templets områder. Da Paulus, som opfyldelse af hans opgave, havde frembåret evangeliet til hedningene, havde han besøgt mange af verdens største byer, og var velkendt at tusinder der kom fra udenlandske steder for at deltage i festen. For ham var det at indtage templet ved en offentlig lejlighed en risiko for hans liv. I flere dage gik han ind og ud blandt tilbederne tilsynelandende ubemærket; men før afslutningen af denne særlige periode, idet han talte med præsterne om de ofre der blev sendt, genkendte nogle jøder ham fra Asien. Disse mænd var blevet overvundet af ham i Efesus synagoge, og var blevet mere og mere oprevet imod ham, idet de bevidnede hans succes med at oprette en kristen menighed i den by. De så ham nu der hvor de ikke troede at han ville vove ud til, - i templets områder. Nu var han i deres magt og de besluttede sig for at han måtte lide for hans frimodighed.