Acts 24:1

King James Version (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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

After five days - These days are to be reckoned from the time in which Paul was apprehended at Jerusalem, and twelve days after he had arrived in that city; see Acts 24:11. Calmet reckons the days thus: - St. Luke says that Paul was apprehended at Jerusalem when the seven days of his vow were nearly ended, Acts 21:27; that is, at the end of the fifth day after his arrival. The next day, which was the sixth, he was presented before the Sanhedrin. The night following, he was taken to Antipatris. The next day, the seventh, he arrived at Caesarea. Five days afterwards, that is, the twelfth day after his arrival at Jerusalem, the high priest and the elders, with Tertullus, came down to accuse him before Felix. - But see the note on Acts 23:32.

A certain orator named Tertullus - This was probably a Roman proselyte to Judaism; yet he speaks every where as a Jew. Roman orators, advocates; etc., were found in different provinces of the Roman empire; and they, in general, spoke both the Greek and Latin languages; and, being well acquainted with the Roman laws and customs, were no doubt very useful. Luitprandus supposed that this Tertullus was the same with him who was colleague with Pliny the younger, in the consulate, in the year of Rome, 852; who is mentioned by Pliny, Epist. v. 15. Of this there is no satisfactory proof.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

And after five days - This time was occupied, doubtless, in their receiving the command to go to Caesarea, and in making the necessary arrangements. This was the twelfth day after Paul‘s arrival at Jerusalem. See Acts 24:11.

Ananias, the high priest - See the notes on Acts 23:2.

Descended - Came down from Jerusalem. This was the usual language when a departure from Jerusalem was spoken of. See the notes on Acts 15:1.

With a certain orator named Tertullus - Appointed to accuse Paul. This is a Roman name, and this man was doubtless a Roman. As the Jews were, to a great extent, ignorant of the Roman laws, and of their mode of administering justice, it is not improbable that they were in the habit of employing Roman lawyers to plead their causes.

Who informed the governor against Paul - Who acted as the accuser, or who managed their cause before the governor.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

See here the unhappiness of great men, and a great unhappiness it is, to have their services praised beyond measure, and never to be faithfully told of their faults; hereby they are hardened and encouraged in evil, like Felix. God's prophets were charged with being troublers of the land, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that he perverted the nation; the very same charges were brought against Paul. The selfish and evil passions of men urge them forward, and the graces and power of speech, too often have been used to mislead and prejudice men against the truth. How different will the characters of Paul and Felix appear at the day of judgement, from what they are represented in the speech of Tertullus! Let not Christians value the applause, or be troubled at the revilings of ungodly men, who represent the vilest of the human race almost as gods, and the excellent of the earth as pestilences and movers of sedition.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

1. After five days. That is, after Paul’s arrival at Caesarea (see on v. 11). Five days would be none too long to prepare formal charges and to instruct a professionally competent spokesman to present the case (cf. chs. 21:17, 18, 27; 24:11).

Ananias. See on ch. 23:2. The high priest would not feel kindly toward Paul, who had called him a “whited wall” (ch. 23:3).

Descended. Or, “came down,” that is from Jerusalem, high in the mountains, to the Roman capital at Caesarea, on the seacoast.

The elders. See on ch. 23:14. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “certain elders.” It is unlikely that Ananias, a Sadducee, would have brought many Pharisees from the council at Jerusalem, for Pharisees had championed Paul (see on ch. 23:9).

Orator. Gr. rhÃ„â€œtÅÂr, “a speaker,” “an orator.” A rhÃ„â€œtÅÂr was an advocate, a professional pleader. This title is never used in the NT for the “preacher,” or “herald” (Gr. kÃ„â€œrux, 1 Tim. 1:7), of the gospel message, nor for Christ our “advocate” (Gr. paraklÃ„â€œtos, 1 John 2:1; see on Matt. 5:4).

Tertullus. The name is Latin, a diminutive of Tertius, meaning “third.” Compare Secundus, “second” (ch. 20:4). At every provincial court there were men available, versed in Roman ways, to speak for non-Roman provincials. Tertullus may have been a Jew versed in Roman legal procedure, or a Roman familiar with Jewish lore. If he was a Roman, his use of “we,” “us,” and “our” may imply that he was a proselyte to Judaism, or he may have used these pronouns simply to emphasize that he was speaking on behalf of his clients.

Who informed. The Greek is plural, thus including Ananias, the elders, and Tertullus. The entire deputation joined in bringing the charge against Paul. As in ch. 25:2, 15, the Gr. emphanizÅÂ, “informed,” is used for the laying of a formal charge.

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 419-22

This chapter is based on Acts 24.

Five days after Paul's arrival at Caesarea his accusers came from Jerusalem, accompanied by Tertullus, an orator whom they had engaged as their counsel. The case was granted a speedy hearing. Paul was brought before the assembly, and Tertullus “began to accuse him.” Judging that flattery would have more influence upon the Roman governor than the simple statements of truth and justice, the wily orator began his speech by praising Felix: “Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.” AA 419.1

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