Bible Strands
Acts 24:5
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Tertullus addresses Governor Felix during Paul’s defense, immediately after requesting brief indulgence to present his charges. The speech frames Paul as a dangerous agitator to justify the governor’s scrutiny.
The words — loimon (pestilence/pest) and kinounta (stirring up) appear in the Greek text as loimon and kinounta. Literally, they describe a man identified as a plague and one actively inciting unrest.
The thread — The accusation echoes in Acts 28:22, where Paul notes the same sect is spoken against everywhere. Acts 24:14 records Paul’s direct response, acknowledging the label while affirming his worship of the God of Israel.
Why it lands — The text forces readers to distinguish between political slander and actual guilt. It demands a clear assessment of whether Paul’s teachings constitute a public threat or faithful adherence to Jewish scripture.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Acts 28:22 But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
- Acts 24:14 I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
- Acts 15:5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
- Acts 21:28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
- Acts 26:5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.
- Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar, and proclaiming Himself to be Christ, a King.”
- Acts 5:17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out
- Acts 16:20 They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
- Acts 17:6 But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
- 1 Corinthians 4:13 when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.