Acts 24:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Five days after Paul's transfer to Caesarea, the high priest Ananias arrives with elders and a hired advocate, Tertullus, to lay formal charges against Paul before Governor Felix.
What Does Acts 24:1 Mean?
Paul has been moved by night from Jerusalem to Caesarea to foil an assassination plot (Acts 23). Now the prosecution arrives: Ananias the high priest himself makes the journey down to the coast, bringing elders and a trained courtroom speaker named Tertullus. Hiring a professional orator shows how badly the Jerusalem leadership wanted Paul condemned; 'informed the governor against Paul' is the language of formal legal accusation.
The scene fulfills what the Lord had said of Paul from the beginning: he would bear Christ's name 'before Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel' (Acts 9:15). What looks like a prisoner's peril is, in God's hand, a pulpit. Jesus promised His followers they would stand before rulers for His sake, and that it would 'turn to you for a testimony' (Luke 21:12-13). The courtroom is about to become a place of witness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 24:1
What does Acts 24:1 mean?
Five days after Paul's transfer to Caesarea, the high priest Ananias arrives with elders and a hired advocate, Tertullus, to lay formal charges against Paul before Governor Felix.