Acts 17:27

17:27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Acts 24:12

24:12 They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city,

tn See BDAG 1097-98 s.v. ψηλαφάω, which lists “touch, handle” and “to feel around for, grope for” as possible meanings.

sn Perhaps grope around for him and find him. The pagans’ struggle to know God is the point here. Conscience alone is not good enough.

tn The participle ὑπάρχοντα (Juparconta) has been translated as a concessive adverbial participle.

tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.”

tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested.

tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.

sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city.