1After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, who made a representation to the governor against Paul. [24:2] When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Great peace we are obtaining through you, and excellent reforms are being brought about to this nation through your foresight, [24:3] in every way and everywhere we accept these things, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. [24:4] But so that I may not cut in on you any further, I implore you to hear us briefly in your kindness. [24:5] For having found this man a pest and one stirring up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes — [24:6] who even attempted to profane the temple, whom also we seized, and according to our own law we wanted to judge him. [24:7] But Lysias the commander, having come up with great violence, took him out of our hands, [24:8] from whom you yourself, having examined him concerning all these things, will be able to know of which things we accuse him." [24:9] Then the Jews also joined in, declaring that these things were so.
ACT 24:1-9
Tertullus Prosecutes Paul
In the world it was spoken into
In Acts 24:1-9, Tertullus, a skilled orator, presents a formal accusation against Paul before Felix, the Roman governor of Judea. Tertullus begins with flattery, a common rhetorical strategy in Greco-Roman legal proceedings, praising Felix for bringing 'peace' and 'reforms' to the region. This appeal to Felix’s authority and foresight reflects the Roman emphasis on maintaining order and stability in the provinces. Tertullus then accuses Paul of being a 'pest' , a term often used metaphorically to describe someone who disrupts societal harmony, and of stirring up insurrections among Jews worldwide. He also labels Paul as a leader of the 'sect' of the Nazarenes, a term that, while neutral in its original sense, carries a negative connotation in this context, suggesting divisiveness. The Jewish leaders present, including the high priest Ananias, corroborate these charges, seeking to align themselves with Roman authority to eliminate a perceived threat to their religious and social order.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 24:1
- KJV
- And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
- BSB
- Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
- Koinōnos
- After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, who made a representation to the governor against Paul.
ACT 24:2
- KJV
- And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
- BSB
- When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.
- Koinōnos
- When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Great peace we are obtaining through you, and excellent reforms are being brought about to this nation through your foresight,
ACT 24:3
- KJV
- We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
- BSB
- In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
- Koinōnos
- in every way and everywhere we accept these things, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
ACT 24:4
- KJV
- Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
- BSB
- But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.
- Koinōnos
- But so that I may not cut in on you any further, I implore you to hear us briefly in your kindness.
ACT 24:5
- KJV
- For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
- BSB
- We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
- Koinōnos
- For having found this man a pest and one stirring up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes —
ACT 24:6
- KJV
- Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
- BSB
- and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
- Koinōnos
- who even attempted to profane the temple, whom also we seized, and according to our own law we wanted to judge him.
ACT 24:7
- KJV
- But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
- Koinōnos
- But Lysias the commander, having come up with great violence, took him out of our hands,
ACT 24:8
- KJV
- Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
- BSB
- By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”
- Koinōnos
- from whom you yourself, having examined him concerning all these things, will be able to know of which things we accuse him.
ACT 24:9
- KJV
- And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
- BSB
- The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
- Koinōnos
- Then the Jews also joined in, declaring that these things were so.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.2
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.8.1
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.2
“Now Pilate, who was sent as procurator into Judea by Tiberius, sent by night those images of Caesar that are called ensigns into Jerusalem.”
Cited to ground: Felix, the Roman governor of Judea.
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1
“Under his administration it was that a certain Galilean, whose name was Judas, prevailed with his countrymen to revolt, and said they were cowards if they would endure to pay a tax to the Romans”
Cited to ground: stirring up insurrections among Jews worldwide.
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.8.1
“This man was a teacher of a peculiar sect of his own, and was not at all like the rest of those their leaders.”
Cited to ground: He also labels Paul as a leader of the 'sect' of the Nazarenes
Translator's notes
ACT 24:2
- excellent reforms:The phrase translated 'excellent reforms' refers to positive changes or improvements, often with the sense of things being set right or corrected. It implies actions that lead to a better state of affairs.
ACT 24:3
- most excellent:The term translated 'most excellent' was a formal title of respect used for high-ranking Roman officials, indicating their superior status and authority.
ACT 24:5
- a pest:The word translated 'a pest' literally means a plague or pestilence, and when applied to a person, it describes someone who is a public menace or a source of widespread trouble.
- sect;:The word translated 'sect' originally meant a 'choice' or 'school of thought,' and in this context, it refers to a distinct philosophical or religious group with its own chosen doctrines.