Atos 24

Atos 24

Utley on elders - In the OT this term referred to older tribal leaders. By the post-exilic time it began to be used of wealthy, influential people of Jerusalem. Often in the NT the Sanhedrin is described as “the High Priests, scribes, and elders.” These were probably members of the Sanhedrin who were supporters of the Sadducees. The temple leadership had seen the potential problem when Pharisees were present (cf. Acts 23:6–10). Steven Ger - To ensure that they effectively made their case against Paul, they hired Tertullus, a slick Gentile lawyer familiar with Roman law. (Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series: Acts p. 287). With an attorney named Tertullus - Tertullus is a diminutive of Tertius (Ro 16:22). Attorney is rhetor (from rheo = to speak; Eng = rhetor) used only here in the NT and refers to a public speaker, an orator and then specifically as in this case a speaker in court and thus an advocate or attorney. Tertullus is Roman because the Jews were not familiar with the Roman legal system and thus would not have known how to prosecute the case against Paul before the Roman provincial governor, Felix. A T Robertson suggests that Tertullus' speech "was probably in Latin which Paul may have understood also." See What does the Bible say about lawyers? THOUGHT - The Jews had their human "advocate," but little did they know he would be going against Paul's super-human Advocate, the parakletos Himself, the Spirit of Jesus Christ (cf His promise in Acts 23:11+). Beloved, He is your Advocate also when you are falsely accused, slandered, or maliciously maligned! Don't forget that He is "on duty" in your hour of need! And they brought charges to the governor against Paul - Against Paul in Greek is "kata tou Paulou" where the preposition kata can mean "down" - the point is that they were as we might say "down on Paul!" The Jews present their formal charges (cf Acts 23:15+ and Acts 25:2+). This was like our modern day indictment. Felix was a cruel man (cf. Tacitus,Histories 5:9 which is sad because he was also a Greek Freedman, and one would have thought he who had been freed from slavery would be a mercy filled man. Apparently not the case! Utley adds Felix was only in his position because of his brother, Pallas, who, along with Felix, was a Freedman of Antonia (Marc Antony’s daughter), Claudius, the Emperor’s mother. He was later removed by Nero at the request of the people (cf. Josephus, Wars 2.12.8–13.7 and Antiq. 20.7.7–8.9. Brought charges (1718)(emphanizo from en = in, into + phaino = show, make visible, make conspicuous) means to make visible, to lay something open to view (clear or plain) so all can see (Jn 14:22, cp Ex 33:13 = idea is "reveal Yourself to me", Mt 27:53, He 9:24). In this case the idea is to present evidence or bring charges as in a formal judicial report (Acts 24:1, 25:2, Esther 2:22) Emphanizo in Acts - Matt. 27:53; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:22; Acts 23:15; Acts 23:22; Acts 24:1; Acts 25:2; Acts 25:15; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 11:14 Acts 24:2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, NET Acts 24:2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. GNT Acts 24:2 κληθέντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἤρξατο κατηγορεῖν ὁ Τέρτυλλος λέγων, Πολλῆς εἰρήνης τυγχάνοντες διὰ σοῦ καὶ διορθωμάτων γινομένων τῷ ἔθνει τούτῳ διὰ τῆς σῆς προνοίας, NLT Acts 24:2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:"Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. KJV Acts 24:2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, ESV Acts 24:2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, CSB Acts 24:2 When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, NIV Acts 24:2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. NKJ Acts 24:2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, NRS Acts 24:2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. YLT Acts 24:2 and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, 'Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought, Since we have through you attained: Ac 24:26,27 Ps 10:3 12:2,3 Pr 26:28 29:5 Jude 1:16 Video of Paul before Felix Acts 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Paul Summoned Before Felix PAUL SUMMONED TO THE "COURTROOM" After Paul had been summoned (kaleo) - "Paul is called in by the crier at the beginning of the court session" (Larkin) Under Roman law one had to have the accused present before he could be accused. Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor - Note the silver tongued lawyer's laudatory preparation of Felix, preceding actual accusations. Recall that the governor (procurator) of Judea at this time was Antonius Felix who served from 52-59 A.D. Procurator of Judea was the same office Pontius Pilate had occupied from 26-36 A.D. It is notable that Tertullus spent almost as much time in his flattery as he did on the facts of the case, or at least facts as the Jews had related to him. Governor (2232)(hegemon from hegeomai = to lead, rule) refers to one holding high office, especially in a preeminent position in this case the Roman procurator. Revelation 12:10+ gives us a clue as to who is behind this lawyer's (now notice I did not say "ALL" lawyers!) accusations on behalf of the Jews. His charges are obviously false, "trumped up" [concocted with intent to deceive] and in essence "lies!" Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser (kategoros) (SATAN, THE LIAR, OUR ADVERSARY) of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses (kategoreo in present tense = continually accuses) them before our God day and night. THOUGHT - Christians often are lied about, looked down upon, brought in, and stood before the court of a watching and listening world. Are you on trial today? Has the enemy brought accusations against you? Do you trust God when everything is out of your hands? I once was accused of costing the hospital I worked at a million dollar loss. The funny thing is that I did not even know I was being accused. Some time later one of my associates who had met with the hospital hierarchy told me about how the Laboratory Supervisor (whom I trusted and with whom I had participated in the meeting that eventually cost the hospital, a meeting in which it was her advice that cost the hosptial a cool million!). I could have easily been fired over this accusation, and not sure why I was not, but I believe without any doubt whatsoever that God was my Advocating Attorney in some way I may discover in Heaven. In the meantime the supervisor who slandered me developed a severe cancer and was dead in only a few months. And I did go to her death bed and share the Gospel again (I had done so many times before but received some of the most hateful looks I have ever seen in my life) but she steadfastly refused to believe in Jesus. We have a Covenant Defender when we are slandered, lied about, falsely accused, etc. One way or another He will defend us so that in the end we can say like Joseph "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Ge 50:20). Related Resources: See commentary on Acts 23:24-35 for additional insights into Felix Who is Felix in the Bible? Antonius Felix - Wikipedia - Felix's cruelty and licentiousness, coupled with his accessibility to bribes (see Acts 24:26), led to a great increase of crime in Judaea. The period of his rule was marked by internal feuds and disturbances, which he put down with severity. Began to accuse (present tense)(2723)(kategoreo from kata = against + agora = the assembly, a place of public speaking. Other sources have agoreuo = to speak. The prefixed preposition suggests animosity!) means to speak against a person before a public tribunal or bring an accusation in court. To accuse formally and before a tribunal, to bring a charge publicly. The idea is to speak openly against, to condemn or accuse mainly in a legal sense. The cognate word kategoria was a legal technical term that referred to the content of the accusation or charge made against someone. Note that all of the Gospel uses involve accusing Jesus (except John 5:45). The present tense indicates this accusation is on ongoing activity. Kategoreo in Acts - Acts 22:30; Acts 24:2; Acts 24:8; Acts 24:13; Acts 24:19; Acts 25:5; Acts 25:11; Acts 25:16; Acts 28:19; Rom. 2:15; Rev. 12:10 TERTULLUS' FAWNING FLATTERY Fawning means to show submission or fear; excessively anxious to please; to seek attention and admiration (from) by cringing and flattering. And Tertullus had good reason to attempt this tactic because "Felix was known for his violent use of repressive force and corrupt self-aggrandizement." (Toussaint) Since we have through you attained (tugchano/tynchano) much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation - Talk about "buttering up" the judge! There is a kernel of truth in his praise that Felix had "attained much peace" for some sources tell us Felix had subdued bandits, suppressed an Egyptian imposter (Acts 21:38) and quelled a very afflictive disturbance which took place between the Syrians and Jews of Caesarea. The Romans prided themselves in preserving the peace and such a comment was sure to win favor On the other hand Robert Girard wrote, “Tertullus waxed eloquent about the ‘great peace’ the province had enjoyed under Felix. Actually, few periods in Judean history were marred by more unrest and terrorism. Tertullus told how grateful the people were for Felix’s ‘foresight.’ The years of A.D 52-59 when Felix was procurator were years of unparalleled government corruption!” Wiersbe agrees with Girard writing " It was true that Felix had put down some revolts, but he had certainly not brought peace to the land. In fact, during the time Felix was suppressing robbers in his realm, he was also hiring robbers to murder the high priest Jonathan! So much for his reforms." A T Robertson on Tertullus' flattery - A regular piece of flattery, captatio benevolentiae, to ingratiate himself into the good graces of the governor. Felix had suppressed a riot, but Tacitus (Ann. XII. 54) declares that Felix secretly encouraged banditti and shared the plunder for which the Jews finally made complaint to Nero who recalled him. But it sounded well to praise Felix for keeping peace in his province, especially as Tertullus was going to accuse Paul of being a disturber of the peace. Steven Ger - In an address dripping with florid rhetoric and gratuitous flattery, the lawyer praised Felix for the peace he had established and the reforms he had initiated in Judea. (Of course, the reality was that Felix' rule was characterized by an abundance of both violence and corruption.) (Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series: Acts p. 287). THOUGHT - Someone has said that flattery is something that you say to a person’s face that you would never say behind their back! Peace (1515)(eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, a meaning convey by the common expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace as a state of concord and harmony is the opposite of war. In the more significant spiritual sense eirene can convey the sense of an inner rest, well being and harmony, the state of reconciliation with God, that comes when one places their faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (see Ro 5:1+). All uses of eirene in Acts - Acts 7:26; Acts 9:31; Acts 10:36; Acts 12:20; Acts 15:33; Acts 16:36; Acts 24:2 Providence (4307)(pronoia from pronoeo = perceive beforehand, foresee from pro = before + noeo = perceive with mind) literally means "a thought one has beforehand", a planning ahead, a "premeditation". Pronoia conveys the basic idea of planning something out ahead of time, giving it forethought or carrying out thoughtful planning to meet a need. Also used of planning out our sin ("pre-planned sin" - Woe!) See discussion in notes on Ro 13:14+. Providence - "Forethought. Providentia Augusti (the providence of the emperor ) was a common title on the coins of the emperors." (Vincent) “Providence” is Latin Providentia (foreseeing, provideo). Roman coins often have Providentia Caesaris. Post-Augustan Latin uses it of God (Deus). (ATR) Larkin - Tertullus' exordium with its extensive captatio benevolentiae (ED: MEANS "WINNING OF GOOD WILL") (it takes up half the speech as Luke reports it, vv. 2-4) curries the judge's favor with conventional flowery rhetoric...In fact, the governor's rule brought anything but a long period of peace, and there is no record of many improvements, reforms. Felix did maintain a tense peace through an ongoing series of search-and-destroy missions against hoodlum terrorists (Josephus Jewish Wars 2.253, 264, 265; Jewish Antiquities 20.5). Yet this fanned the fires of Jewish political rebellion into fiercer and fiercer flame. Second, Tertullus curries favor by declaring his intent to move to the charges directly and deal with them briefly, depending on Felix's kindness to hear him.. (IVP Commentary) ESV - reforms are being made for this nation - Being made is in the present tense so the flattering statement is “Reform continually taking place for this nation.” Reforms (only NT use, none in Lxx)(1357)(diorthoma from diorthoo = to correct, set right) in classical uses describes something made straight or set right. BDAG = "that which results from correcting a wrong or undesirable situation."