Acts 24:1

Acts 24:1 says.  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. We are told that Ananias and the elders got there five days later.  They brought an orator named Tertullus, a Roman, with them and he informed the governor against Paul. The chief priest is the one who should have been in the best position to inform against Paul, but maybe since their charges weren't true, they felt they needed someone who spoke well.  If we were to bring charges against a fellow Christian, whether in the church or the secular world, hopefully we would be able to speak for ourselves.  Verse two adds, 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, Verse three continues, We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.  Tertullus was a spokesman for hire, and he started by flattering Felix, the governor.  He said they enjoyed peace due to Felix' s rule and were thankful for it. What they enjoyed was repression at his hands, but they wanted his favor.  People still use flattery today to get what they want.  Verse four states, Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.  Tertullus then told Felix that he wouldn’t continue to bore him with tedious words.  He figured he had flattered him enough to now make his request.  Some leaders respond very positively to flattery, though they shouldn’t.  Verse five adds, For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Then, he accused Paul of being a petulant fellow, full of sedition.  In other words, he was a threat to the peace of the country.  People today will use all methods to discredit God's work, especially lies, because it cannot be discredited with the truth.  Verse six continues, Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.  He then said that they had judged Paul by their Law, having accused him of profaning the temple, which would not have been against Roman Law.  Verse seven says, But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,  He said the chief captain Lysias came and took him from them with great violence.  He did not say that they were the cause of that violence.  We can expect not only lies but also half-truths when the world speaks against us.  Verse eight adds, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.  Verse nine continues, And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.  We don't have to look far to see that if we speak out against sin, we are accused of hating the sinner.  The Jews also assented, saying these things were so.