Acts 24:1-9

Five days later. Five days after Paul had escaped from Jerusalem. Roman justice moved swiftly. The deep hatred of the Jewish leaders is shown by the fact that the High Priest himself comes, with some elders [who were part of the Council]. A lawyer named Tertullas. He may not have been a Jew. He was a lawyer skilled in Roman law, and would be more able to present the case in the best way. In Acts 24:2-4, Tertullus says flattering things about Felix to try to get an "upper hand" in the case. [He praises Felix for keeping peace and making needed reforms for the good of the country. The real truth is that Felix was so severe and cruel that he "fanned the flames of rebellion." He used the "armed terrorists" to assassinate Jonathan the high priest, and he made the occasional uprisings of the people become permanent rebellion. He helped bring on the bloody conflict which ended in Jerusalem being destroyed.] The party of the Nazarenes. The Jews used this name for the Christians for hundreds of years, but not in a good sense. This was the real charge against Paul. He was a Christian leader. They were trying to show that Paul preached a religion which was illegal under Roman law (see Acts 18:13 and note). But they first charge Paul with starting riots (which was not true), because Felix was proud of the way he kept the peace. He also tried to defile the temple. Paul is charged with: (1) starting riots; (2) preaching an illegal religion; (3) defiling the temple. The Jewish Law passed the death penalty for defiling the temple, and the Romans usually allowed them to carry it out. And we arrested him. Tertullus shows this as a legal action of the Council, when it was actually the action of the mob. But the commander Lysias came in. He did not come and take Paul with great violence (see Acts 21:32), nor did they have any intention of trying Paul by their law (see Acts 21:31). The Jews Joined in. They said all of it was true, when they knew it wasn't.

* Some MSS add and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7But the commander, Lysias, came and with the use of much force snatched him from our hands 8and ordered his accusers to come before you.