The Sanhedrin’s Charge Against Paul

Disruption ensued when some Jews in Jerusalem falsely accused Paul of bringing a gentile into portions of the Jewish temple that were off-limits to non-Jews. The riotous crowd of Jews forced the Roman tribune, Claudius Lysias, to get involved lest a wider disturbance or even a full-scale revolt break out. Lysias remained confused about why the Jews were against Paul even after he gathered the Jewish ruling council known as the Sanhedrin to provide input on the matter. After a threat on Paul’s life uncovered by the Apostle’s nephew made it clear that Jerusalem was no longer a safe place to keep Paul, Lysias sent Paul to Caesarea to have a hearing before the Roman governor of Judea, Felix. The Apostle was not put on trial right away, however, for Felix would not begin proceedings until Paul’s accusers arrived in Caesarea (Acts 21:7–23:35).

In today’s passage, we read that five days elapsed before the high priest Ananias, some representatives of the Sanhedrin, and a spokesman for the Jews, Tertullus, arrived (24:1). Luke does not tell us much about Tertullus, who may not have even been a Jew himself. He was “help for hire,” as it were, a man skilled in oratory who knew that the Romans desired above all else to keep the peace. Tertullus would prosecute the Sanhedrin’s case against Paul.

Tertullus presented his argument with many of the common pleasantries that were used when addressing a Roman official (vv. 2–4). He expressed gratitude for Felix’s rule over Judea, which only put the insincerity of the Jews and the weakness of their case against Paul on full display to readers of this account. After all, the Jews hated Felix, and extrabiblical Jewish records from the first century describe the governor in unflattering terms because of his cruelty. The members of the Sanhedrin had no love for Felix, but they approached him deferentially because they wanted to get rid of Paul.

The craftiness of the Sanhedrin shows itself also in the specific charges made against the Apostle. They accused him of stirring up riots, something sure to arouse Roman ire, since many Jews sought the overthrow of Roman control over their affairs (v. 5). Such charges, of course, were false. Jews had engaged in riots in many places where Paul had preached, but he did not exhort them to violence. Instead, they freely chose not only to reject Paul’s gospel preaching but also to disturb the peace with violence (e.g., 17:1–15; 18:12–16). Enemies of the gospel often lie about its preachers.