Paul is quick to point out that he has done nothing wrong (literally “not sinned”) against the Law of the Jews (see 21.21), or against the temple (see 21.28), or against the Roman Emperor. The less known term, “Caesar,” appears as the Roman Emperor (see New English Bible “the Emperor”).

I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews may be rendered as “I have done nothing which violates the Law of the Jews” or “… which is contrary to the Law of the Jews.” It may be much more difficult to speak of “nothing wrong against the temple.” In some languages this is “have not harmed the temple in any way,” or “have not caused trouble as far as the temple is concerned.”

Frequently one cannot use the same expression, “doing anything wrong against,” with three such entirely different objects as the Law of the Jews, the temple, and the Roman Emperor. Therefore, especially in the final case, it may be necessary to say, “I have said nothing bad against the Roman Emperor” or “I have said nothing harmful against the Roman Emperor.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .