The noun ἱερόσυλος designates someone who robs temples or commits sacrilege—a temple-plunderer. Ancient societies treated such persons as both criminals and impious offenders against the gods. The word combines ἱερός (sacred) with συλάω (to rob, plunder). Acts 19:37 records the Ephesian town clerk defending Paul and his companions: they are "neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess." This cleared them of the charge of directly attacking Artemis's cult or stealing temple property, though their preaching undermined her worship. Translations render it "temple-robbers" (English), "sacrílegos" (Spanish), "voleur de temple" (French), emphasizing the sacrilegious theft.