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After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.
Acts 24:1 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • 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.
  • BSB Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
  • NKJV Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
  • NASB Now after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges against Paul to the governor.
  • NLT Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Five days later the high priest Ananias arrives with elders and a hired orator, Tertullus, to formally accuse Paul before Felix. The Jewish leadership pursues their case in a Roman court.

Overview

Determined to silence Paul, the Sanhedrin's leaders travel to Caesarea and engage a professional advocate skilled in Roman rhetoric. Their willingness to prosecute before a Gentile governor shows how seriously they opposed the gospel. The scene sets up a striking contrast between polished accusation and Paul's plain testimony to the truth of the risen Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 13

  • Acts 23:2The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
  • Acts 24:11seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
  • Acts 23:24He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
  • Acts 21:27When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,
  • Acts 23:35“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
  • Acts 25:2Then the high priest and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul, and they begged him,
  • Ps 11:2For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, that they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
  • Acts 23:30When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”
  • Acts 25:15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, asking for a sentence against him.
  • Isa 3:3the captain of fifty, the honorable man, the counselor, the skilled craftsman, and the clever enchanter.
  • Acts 12:21On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
  • 1 Cor 2:4My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
  • 1 Cor 2:1When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 24:1YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 24:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.