Acts 24:1-9 - He is a ringleader

24:1-4

So five days later Ananias, the high priest,  and some elders went down to Caesarea to make their case. They took with them a lawyer named Tertullus, he would be their lead spokesman. So Tertullus presented his case, beginning with a fair degree of flattery. He praised the governorship of Felix, mentioning, in particular, the “long period of peace” and his “reforms”. So Tertullus is trying to butter up the governor.

24:5-9

Tertullus then moves to the case, claiming that Paul was “stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world”. Now riots had often occurred when Paul spoke, but that was a result of Jews trying to stir up trouble. He was described as a “ringleader of the Nazarene sect”. “Nazarene sect” was a term used by the Jews for Christians. Paul was indeed a leader, but ringleader implies something illicit, e.g. leading something illegal. He was then accused of trying to desecrate the temple, which was manifestly untrue. The rubbish spouted by Tertullus was supported by the other Jews.