Acts 24:1

After five days. That is, after Paul’s arrival at Caesarea (see on v. 11). Five days would be none too long to prepare formal charges and to instruct a professionally competent spokesman to present the case (cf. chs. 21:17, 18, 27; 24:11).

Ananias. See on ch. 23:2. The high priest would not feel kindly toward Paul, who had called him a “whited wall” (ch. 23:3).

Descended. Or, “came down,” that is from Jerusalem, high in the mountains, to the Roman capital at Caesarea, on the seacoast.

The elders. See on ch. 23:14. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “certain elders.” It is unlikely that Ananias, a Sadducee, would have brought many Pharisees from the council at Jerusalem, for Pharisees had championed Paul (see on ch. 23:9).

Orator. Gr. rhetor, “a speaker,” “an orator.” A rhetor was an advocate, a professional pleader. This title is never used in the NT for the “preacher,” or “herald” (Gr. kerux, 1 Tim. 1:7), of the gospel message, nor for Christ our “advocate” (Gr. parakletos, 1 John 2:1; see on Matt. 5:4).

Tertullus. The name is Latin, a diminutive of Tertius, meaning “third.” Compare Secundus, “second” (ch. 20:4). At every provincial court there were men available, versed in Roman ways, to speak for non-Roman provincials. Tertullus may have been a Jew versed in Roman legal procedure, or a Roman familiar with Jewish lore. If he was a Roman, his use of “we,” “us,” and “our” may imply that he was a proselyte to Judaism, or he may have used these pronouns simply to emphasize that he was speaking on behalf of his clients.

Who informed. The Greek is plural, thus including Ananias, the elders, and Tertullus. The entire deputation joined in bringing the charge against Paul. As in ch. 25:2, 15, the Gr. emphanizd, “informed,” is used for the laying of a formal charge.