Bible Dictionary
ROBBERS OF TEMPLES
Robbers of temples were people guilty of sacrilege or stealing from sacred treasuries. In Acts 19:37 the expression refers to an accusation against Paul’s companions at Ephesus.
Definition
Robbers of temples were persons guilty of sacrilege, especially the robbing of sacred treasuries or temples. The expression refers to profaning or stealing from a temple rather than to ordinary church robbery in the modern sense.
Biblical Usage
In Acts 19:37 the town clerk of Ephesus rejects the accusation that Paul’s companions were robbers of temples. The expression also appears in the King James Version of 2 Maccabees 4:42, where the Revised Version reads “author of the sacrilege.”
Historical Background
The temple of Diana at Ephesus had a great treasure chamber, so the offense of temple robbery could have been known in that setting.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(hierosuloi, "guilty of sacrilege"): A term used by the town clerk of Ephesus (Ac 19:37, the King James Version "robbers of churches"). As the temple of Diana (Artemas) had a great treasure-chamber, the offense might not be unknown among them; compare Ro 2:22.</p><p>In 2 Macc 4:42 the King James Version the epithet "church-robber" (the Revised Version (British and American) "author of the sacrilege") is applied to LYSIMACHUS (which see).</p>