Discovery BoxActs 24:2-13 
Context24:2 When Paul 1 had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, 2 saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time 3 of peace through your rule, 4 and reforms 5 are being made in this nation 6 through your foresight. 7 24:3 Most excellent Felix, 8 we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way 9 with all gratitude. 10 24:4 But so that I may not delay 11 you any further, I beg 12 you to hear us briefly 13 with your customary graciousness. 14 24:5 For we have found 15 this man to be a troublemaker, 16 one who stirs up riots 17 among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader 18 of the sect of the Nazarenes. 19 24:6 He 20 even tried to desecrate 21 the temple, so we arrested 22 him. 24:7 [[EMPTY]] 23 24:8 When you examine 24 him yourself, you will be able to learn from him 25 about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” 26 24:9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, 27 claiming 28 that these things were true.
24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know 29 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 30 24:11 As you can verify 31 for yourself, not more than twelve days ago 32 I went up to Jerusalem 33 to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing 34 with anyone or stirring up a crowd 35 in the temple courts 36 or in the synagogues 37 or throughout the city, 38 24:13 nor can they prove 39 to you the things 40 they are accusing me of doing. 41
1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.”
3 tn Grk “experienced much peace.”
4 tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied).
5 tn This term is used only once in the NT (a hapax legomenon). It refers to improvements in internal administration (BDAG 251 s.v. διόρθωμα).
6 tn Or “being made for this people.”
7 sn References to peaceful rule, reforms, and the governor’s foresight in the opening address by Tertullus represent an attempt to praise the governor and thus make him favorable to the case. Actual descriptions of his rule portray him as inept (Tacitus, Annals 12.54; Josephus, J. W. 2.13.2-7 [2.253-270]).
8 sn Most excellent Felix. See the note on Felix in 23:24.
9 tn Grk “in every way and everywhere.”
10 tn Or “with complete thankfulness.” BDAG 416 s.v. εὐχαριστία 1 has “μετὰ πάσης εὐ.…with all gratitude Ac 24:3.” L&N 31.26 has “‘we acknowledge this anywhere and everywhere with complete thankfulness’ Ac 24:3.”
11 tn Or “may not weary.” BDAG 274 s.v. ἐγκόπτω states, “ἵνα μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖόν σε ἐγκόπτω Ac 24:4 is understood by Syr. and Armen. versions to mean in order not to weary you any further; cp. ἔγκοπος weary Diog. L. 4, 50; LXX; and ἔγκοπον ποιεῖν to weary Job 19:2; Is 43:23. But impose on is also prob.; detain NRSV.”
12 tn Or “request.”
13 tn This term is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 976 s.v. συντόμως 2). Tertullus was asking for a brief hearing, and implying to the governor that he would speak briefly and to the point.
14 tn BDAG 371 s.v. ἐπιείκεια has “τῇ σῇ ἐ. with your (customary) indulgence Ac 24:4.”
15 tn Grk “For having found.” The participle εὑρόντες (Jeurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
16 tn L&N 22.6 has “(a figurative extension of meaning of λοιμός ‘plague,’ 23.158) one who causes all sorts of trouble – ‘troublemaker, pest.’ … ‘for we have found this man to be a troublemaker” Ac 24:5.”
17 tn Or “dissensions.” While BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3 translates this phrase “κινεῖν στάσεις (v.l. στάσιν) τισί create dissension among certain people Ac 24:5,” it is better on the basis of the actual results of Paul’s ministry to categorize this usage under section 2, “uprising, riot, revolt, rebellion” (cf. the use in Acts 19:40).
18 tn This term is yet another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 894 s.v. πρωτοστάτης).
sn A ringleader. Tertullus’ basic argument was that Paul was a major disturber of the public peace. To ignore this the governor would be shunning his duty to preserve the peace and going against the pattern of his rule. In effect, Tertullus claimed that Paul was seditious (a claim the governor could not afford to ignore).
19 sn The sect of the Nazarenes is a designation for followers of Jesus the Nazarene, that is, Christians.
20 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation.
21 tn Or “profane” (BDAG 173 s.v. βεβηλόω). The term was also used of profaning the Sabbath.
22 tn Or “seized.” Grk “whom also we arrested.” Because of the awkwardness of a relative clause in English at this point, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the pronoun “him” as object of the verb.
23 tc Some later
24 tn Or “question.”
25 tn Grk “From whom when you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun at the beginning of v. 8 in the translation.
26 tn Grk “about all these things of which we are accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“of which”) in the translation.
27 tn Grk “joined in the attack,” but the adjective “verbal” has been supplied to clarify that this was not another physical assault on Paul. The verb is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 969 s.v. συνεπιτίθημι).
28 tn Or “asserting” (BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσκω).
29 tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
30 sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.
31 tn BDAG 369 s.v. ἐπιγινώσκω 2.c has “notice, perceive, learn of, ascertain…Also as legal t.t. ascertain (2 Macc 14:9) τὶ Ac 23:28; cp. 24:8. W. ὅτι foll. Ac 24:11.” “Verify” is an English synonym for “ascertain.”
32 tn Grk “it is not more than twelve days from when.” This has been simplified to “not more than twelve days ago.”
sn Part of Paul’s defense is that he would not have had time to organize a revolt, since he had arrived in Jerusalem not more than twelve days ago.
33 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
34 tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.”
35 tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “ἐ. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested.
36 tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
37 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
38 sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city.
39 tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.f has “οὐδὲ παραστῆσαι δύνανταί σοι περὶ ὧν νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me Ac 24:13.”
sn Nor can they prove. This is a formal legal claim that Paul’s opponents lacked proof of any wrongdoing. They had no witness who could justify the arrest at the temple.
40 tn The words “the things” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
41 tn Grk “nor can they prove to you [the things] about which they are now accusing me.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“which”) in the translation.
