Chapter
Verse

Acts 24:1

ESV And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
NIV Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.
NASB Now after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges against Paul to the governor.
CSB Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.
NLT Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.
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.
NKJV Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

What does Acts 24:1 mean?

Jewish religious leadership wants Paul dead. They've even joined an assassination plot against him; that scheme failed because Paul's nephew overheard it (Acts 23:12–24). The tribune in Jerusalem can't figure out why the Sanhedrin wants Paul destroyed and can't protect Paul anymore, so he's sent him and the Sanhedrin to face the governor in Caesarea Maritima (Acts 23:26–30).

Paul took only two days to travel the sixty-five miles from Jerusalem to Caesarea because the tribune sent him on horseback (Acts 23:24); his accusers probably had to walk. Ananias was the high priest from AD 48 to 58; he is not the husband of Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11) or the man in Damascus who led Paul to the Lord (Acts 9:10–19). Elders were respected men of the city who helped resolve legal disputes; these elders are also members of the Sanhedrin. Nothing more is known about Tertullus—it is a common name, but he's no relation to the Christian theologian Tertullian who was born in 160.

As the next verses show, the accusers need a lawyer because the Greek court has a particular format, involving a great deal of flattery. Tertullus goes on to accuse Paul of causing dissension among Jews throughout the Roman Empire and attempting to desecrate the temple (Acts 24:5–6). Felix sees through the accusations and knows they're baseless, but he holds Paul just to make the Jews happy (Acts 24:27).

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