Acts 24 5

Acts 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:

Acts 24:5 nkjv

For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Acts 24:5 niv

"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect

Acts 24:5 esv

For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Acts 24:5 nlt

We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.

Acts 24 verses

Acts 24 5 Meaning

This verse records the accusation made by Tertullus, a rhetorician hired by the Jewish leaders, against the Apostle Paul before the Roman governor Felix. Tertullus presents Paul as a disturber of the peace and a leader of the troublesome sect of the Nazarenes, framing his activities as sedition and impiety against Roman authority and Jewish religious law.

Acts 24 5 Context

The immediate context is Paul's trial before Governor Felix in Caesarea. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem by the Roman troops after a Jewish mob accused him of bringing a Gentile into the temple. The Jewish council had brought charges against Paul, which he refuted. Now, five days after Paul's arrest, Tertullus, a paid advocate, is presenting the case for the prosecution. The Sanhedrin are also present. This setting highlights the clash between Jewish opposition and Roman legal proceedings, with Paul at the center, attempting to defend his faith and ministry.

Acts 24 5 Word analysis

• Tertullus: A Latin name, suggesting he was likely a professional Roman or Roman-trained orator.

• Oration: Greek word "rhetores" (ῥήτορος), meaning an orator or a skilled speaker, often used in a legal or public setting.

• "we have found this man a pestilent fellow": Greek "loimon" (λοιμὸν), which means plague, pestilence, or pest. It carries a strong sense of being a harmful nuisance or source of trouble, used metaphorically here for someone disruptive to society.

• "mover of sedition": Greek "kinēta staseōs" (κινητὰ στάσεως). "Kinēta" relates to movement, causing to move or stir up. "Staseōs" (στάσεως) means standing, setting up, but in context, refers to rebellion, civil unrest, or sedition. So, he stirs up rebellion.

• "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes": Greek "archēgon" (ἀρχηγὸν) means chief, prince, author, source, or originator. This is a strong claim implying Paul is the leader and instigator of this specific religious group. "Nazarenes" (Ναζωραίων) is the term used here for followers of Jesus, derived from "Nazareth." This word was often used by opponents to deride and dismiss early Christians.

• "undertook to desecrate the temple": Greek "ebēlosē" (ἐβήλωσε) from "bēloo" (βηλόω), meaning to defile, pollute, or treat as common/profane. Tertullus twists the accusation that Paul brought a Gentile into the inner courts.

• Word-by-group analysis:

  • "pestilent fellow... mover of sedition": This pairing aims to portray Paul as not just a troublemaker but a direct threat to the Roman state and its order. Sedition was a serious crime under Roman law, punishable by death.
  • "sect of the Nazarenes": Labeling Christianity as a mere "sect" minimizes its claims and associates it with potentially divisive groups within Judaism. The term "sect" itself could carry negative connotations, implying a faction that deviates from orthodox beliefs and practices.
  • "undertook to desecrate the temple": This charge appeals directly to Jewish religious sensibilities and Roman concern for maintaining public order and religious sanctity. Defiling the temple was a capital offense.

Acts 24 5 Bonus section

The specific accusation of "desecrating the temple" by bringing in Gentiles was a critical point of contention, as entry into the inner courts was strictly forbidden for non-Jews, with a death penalty for violation (as implied by the graffiti found at the temple). The Jewish leaders present would have wholeheartedly agreed with Tertullus’ framing of this accusation. Tertullus, as a skilled orator, employed "panegyric rhetoric," a formal style often used in public speeches to praise or condemn, starting with a flattering address to the governor (v. 3). His presentation highlights how early Christians were perceived and attacked by both Jewish religious authorities and faced accusations that could lead to severe Roman penalties. This legal setting in Caesarea Maritima, a Roman administrative center, underscores the ongoing tension between the nascent Christian movement and existing power structures.

Acts 24 5 Commentary

Tertullus uses calculated rhetoric to appeal to Felix's presumed interests: Roman order and the prevention of unrest. By labeling Paul a "pestilent fellow" and a "mover of sedition," he taps into anxieties about potential uprisings. The accusation of leading a "sect" attempts to dismiss the growing movement as a minor Jewish dispute. The specific charge regarding the temple seeks to provoke a strong reaction by accusing Paul of a grave religious offense. The prosecution's strategy is to frame Paul not as a theological disputant but as a political threat and a violator of sacred spaces, leveraging language designed to inflame the governor's concerns. The early church was often accused of stirring up trouble (Acts 17:6), and accusations of impiety were common against religious minorities.