Acts 24:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Then witnesses to what was said also come forward. "And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so." The accusers themselves both testify and accuse.

The accusation brought here by the Sanhedrin against Paul consisted solely of what could have significance in the eyes of the Roman government regarding the Jews. They accused Paul of everywhere violating the rights granted to the Jews for peaceful use within the empire. They said that he was causing disturbances and divisions among them, and that recently he had dared to profane the temple. They complained against the tribune, saying that he had hindered the Jews from judging Paul according to the rights granted to them.

After five days Paul's accusers appeared in Caesarea: the high priest Ananias with the elders. They had armed themselves with an advocate, the orator Tertullus, who delivered the accusation against Paul before the procurator (vv. 1-9). Yet the eloquence of this speaker did not achieve its purpose.

When the speech ended, the Jews, having no real witnesses, began one after another to speak against the Apostle Paul, confirming the truth of everything Tertullus had said.

The Jews assented: that is, they affirmed that Paul's guilt was truly such as Tertullus had set it forth.

The rhetorician’s reference to Lysias is as crafty as it is malicious. He speaks of violence committed against them by Lysias, but he is silent about the reason that moved Lysias to do this.

Then the rhetorician asks that the accused himself be examined on all the points of accusation, that is, Paul. The other Jews present there somehow confirmed all this.

According to Saint John Chrysostom, the rhetorician, in referring to Lysias, speaks as though saying: “He ought not to have done this, but he did. By this he expresses that it was grievous for them to go to a foreign tribunal.