Acts 24 9

Acts 24:9 kjv

And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

Acts 24:9 nkjv

And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.

Acts 24:9 niv

The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

Acts 24:9 esv

The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

Acts 24:9 nlt

Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

Acts 24 verses

Acts 24 9 Meaning

Acts 24:9 records the explicit agreement of the Jewish accusers present, affirming the validity and truthfulness of the accusations Tertullus, their orator, made against the Apostle Paul before Governor Felix. This verse highlights their collective assent and united front in seeking Paul's condemnation.

Acts 24 9 Context

Acts chapter 24 details the trial of the Apostle Paul before Antonius Felix, the Roman procurator of Judea. Five days after Paul's transfer from Jerusalem to Caesarea (Acts 23:31-35), Ananias the High Priest, some elders, and a skilled orator named Tertullus arrived to formally present their charges against Paul. Tertullus's accusations in verses 5-8 alleged Paul was a "plague" or "pestilent fellow," a "troublemaker" inciting riots among Jews worldwide, a "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes," and had attempted to desecrate the temple. Verse 9 then reveals the immediate reaction of Paul's Jewish accusers present in the court: they publicly agreed with Tertullus's every word. This immediate context underscores the Jewish leadership's united opposition to Paul and, by extension, to the spread of Christianity, as they sought a Roman conviction against him. Historically, this setting reflects the complex relationship between Roman authority and Jewish religious jurisdiction, where Jewish leaders often leveraged Roman power to suppress movements they deemed heretical or threatening to their authority.

Acts 24 9 Word analysis

• And: De (δέ) - A common Greek conjunction, often translating as "but" or "and," indicating a continuation or transition. Here, it signifies the direct response to Tertullus's speech, connecting the accusations to the accusers' affirmation.
• the Jews: hoi Ioudaioi (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) - Refers specifically to those Jewish individuals present in court who accompanied the high priest and Tertullus from Jerusalem (Acts 24:1). In Acts, "the Jews" sometimes denotes the general Jewish populace, but often points to the religious and political leaders or factions hostile to Jesus and the apostles.
• also: kai (καὶ) - Means "and" or "also." Here it emphasizes that the Jews present, not just Tertullus, took this action, indicating their collective involvement.
• assented: synepephōnesan (συνεπεφώνησαν) - From synepephōneō (συνεπιφωνέω). A crucial term, meaning "to agree together," "to assent by acclamation," or "to join in expressing approval." It implies not just mental agreement, but a vocal and unified public declaration of support for the presented claims. It paints a picture of a unanimous and perhaps even emphatic agreement, as if speaking with "one voice."
• saying: legontes (λέγοντες) - "Saying" or "affirming." This participle confirms their active verbalization of their assent, aligning with the sense of "synepephōnesan."
• that these things: tauta (ταῦτα) - "These things" refers directly to the charges Tertullus had just leveled against Paul (Acts 24:5-8), encompassing accusations of sedition, sectarianism, and attempted temple desecration.
• were so: houtōs echein (οὕτως ἔχειν) - Literally "to hold thus," "to be so," or "to be in this manner." It indicates the truthfulness and accuracy of the accusations as perceived by the accusers. Their affirmation implies the charges are not merely alleged, but are factual.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "And the Jews also assented": This phrase emphasizes the collective and vocal support of Paul's accusers. It was not merely Tertullus's case, but the unanimous declaration of a powerful group within the Jewish leadership who came to see Paul condemned. This unity strengthens their legal position in the eyes of the Roman governor.
• "saying that these things were so": This phrase demonstrates their full endorsement of the presented evidence. They confirmed every accusation, showing their complete agreement with Tertullus's presentation and indicating their commitment to having Paul convicted. This phrase underlines the concerted effort to misrepresent Paul's actions and intentions to the Roman authorities.

Acts 24 9 Bonus section

• The scene described in Acts 24:9 serves as a legal parallel to the false accusations and unanimous rejection of Jesus by the Jewish council before Pilate (e.g., Matt 26:59-66; Luke 23:10). This continuity highlights a recurring pattern of religious persecution.
• The accusers' active "assent" in the Greek (synepephōnesan) suggests a formal and public endorsement within a legal setting, indicating their willingness to stand behind Tertullus's words as their own testimony. This adds weight to the accusations from the court's perspective, as it is presented as the voice of the community elders and High Priest himself, representing a broad consensus.
• The absence of specific counter-arguments from the Jewish delegation, beyond their assent, demonstrates a reliance on the orator's prepared speech rather than an in-depth, item-by-item legal refutation or detailed testimonies for each charge. This perhaps hints at the superficiality or lack of concrete evidence for their "many serious charges" (Acts 25:7), relying on the weight of collective authority and vocal confirmation instead.

Acts 24 9 Commentary

Acts 24:9 is pivotal as it records the moment the assembled Jewish delegation, including the high priest's party, solidified their collective legal strategy against Paul. Their explicit and vocal assent (synepephōnesan) to Tertullus’s charges, ranging from sedition to temple desecration, underscored the unity and conviction of Paul’s accusers. This was more than silent approval; it was an active endorsement, likely vocal, intended to sway Governor Felix by presenting a united and unwavering front. This collective "Amen" to false charges illustrates the depth of the opposition faced by early Christian evangelists and echoes earlier instances of concerted false witness against Jesus and Stephen. It reveals the strategic collaboration between the Jewish leadership and their chosen Roman orator to achieve their desired legal outcome, reinforcing their desire to suppress the Nazarene movement by convicting its prominent apostle.