Robber of Churches

Robber Of Churches (ἱερόσυλος, Ac 19:37). Sacrilege took many forms in antiquity (1 Macc. 6). The plundering of heathen temples was indirectly forbidden to the Jews (De 7:25; Josephus, Ant. 4, 8, 10). The Roman law held it as a sacrilege to be punished by forfeiture of goods, to steal the holy books of the Jews or their money out of places of worship (ibid. 16, 6, 2). SEE SACRILEGE.