"one who despoils temples, commits sacrilege, Acts 19:37*"
Definition and meaning
one who despoils temples, commits sacrilege, Acts 19:37*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἱερόσυλος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of hierosylos (G2417) across the King James Bible.
For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
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Common questions
Strong's G2417 (hierosylos) is a Greek word that means: one who despoils temples, commits sacrilege, Acts 19:37* It appears 1 times in the King James Bible.
The word hierosylos (G2417) appears 1 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2417 is hierosylos, a Greek word defined as: one who despoils temples, commits sacrilege, Acts 19:37*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
hierosylos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.