24:1
Five days later the high priest and some of the elders turned up, they had brought a lawyer with them as well so that they could present their charges against Paul. What they did not realise was that the real issue was God’s charges against them, indeed against the whole of humanity. This is what they really needed to respond to, and to do so by repenting. We see the same pattern today. Those who want a secular society with no regard for God bring charges against Christians. Sometimes informally in public debate, sometimes in courts of law. We need to be aware of who is really on trial.
24:2-4
Tertullus, the lawyer, started by buttering up the governor, talking about the “long period of peace” they had enjoyed. The charge would be that Paul was endangering this peace, and peace was the one thing above all else that a Roman governor wanted in his region. Then the lawyer expresses “profound gratitude” towards the governor. This was complete nonsense as they resented Roman rule. If Jesus had come to overturn Roman rule they would have been delighted and would have “joined the revolution”, but Jesus had a greater revolution in mind. The lawyer addresses the governor with the utmost respect.
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