In brief
Tertullus is an orator mentioned only in Acts 24. He came with the high priest Ananias and some elders to accuse the apostle Paul before Felix, the Roman governor, in Caesarea. He began by flattering the governor, then presented Paul as a plague, an instigator of insurrections among the Jews, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes who tried to profane the temple. Paul replied that his accusers could prove nothing. We remember the contrast between skillful rhetoric and truth.
What does the name Tertullus mean?
Tertullus is a Latin name, generally understood as a diminutive of the name Tertius. The Bible states neither his origin nor whether he was a Jew or a Roman: it presents him only as an orator, one Tertullus (Acts 24:1).
The story of Tertullus
Paul transferred to Caesarea
Acts 23:26-33After a plot formed against Paul in Jerusalem, the commander Claudius Lysias sends him to Governor Felix, in Caesarea, with a letter. In it he writes that he found no charge against him deserving death or imprisonment, and that he told his accusers to bring their case before the governor themselves. This leads to the hearing where Tertullus speaks.
The accusers arrive
Acts 24:1After five days, the high priest Ananias comes down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They inform the governor against Paul. The religious leaders entrust their case to a man skilled in speaking, whose task is to present the accusation convincingly before the Roman authority.
A flattering speech
Acts 24:2-4Tertullus begins with lavish compliments: “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace,” and prosperity is coming to the nation by Felix's foresight. He assures the governor of all thankfulness, then promises to be brief. This flattery aims to win the judge's favor before even speaking of the facts.
Serious accusations
Acts 24:5-6Tertullus then presents Paul as a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, who even tried to profane the temple. These charges mix disturbance of public order, a religious question and sacrilege, grave matters in the eyes of a governor charged with keeping order.
Lysias blamed
Acts 24:6-9Tertullus claims that the Jews wanted to judge Paul according to their law, but that the commander Lysias snatched him from their hands with great violence. Yet according to Lysias's letter, Paul was about to be killed when the commander stepped in (Acts 23:27). Tertullus invites Felix to question Paul, and the Jews present join in the accusation.
Paul's answer
Acts 24:10-21Paul answers respectfully but without flattery. He recalls that he went up to Jerusalem to worship, that he was not found stirring up any crowd, and that his accusers cannot prove what they charge. He acknowledges serving the God of his fathers according to the Way they call a sect, with the hope of the resurrection.
The case adjourned
Acts 24:22-27Felix, who knows this Way rather accurately, adjourns the case. He keeps Paul in custody with some freedom and later hears him speak about faith in Christ. Two years pass, and Felix leaves Paul in prison to please the Jews. Tertullus's speech did not obtain a conviction, but Paul remains a captive.
What Tertullus teaches us
- Fine words and flattery cannot replace the truth of the facts.
- A believer may be accused unjustly; he answers with calm, respect and truth.
- A conscience clear before God and before men is the best defense.
- The Gospel has often been presented as a threat to the established order, with no real basis.
- God remains in control, even when human justice is slow.
Key verses
The heart of Tertullus's accusation: Paul is said to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Paul's answer is simple: his accusers cannot prove what they charge against him. Faced with skillful rhetoric, he relies on the facts.
Paul explains what guides his life: he strives always to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. His defense rests on a life of integrity.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Tertullus in the Bible?
Tertullus was an orator who came with the high priest Ananias and some elders to accuse Paul before Governor Felix (Acts 24:1). He is mentioned only in this chapter. After a flattering praise of the governor, he accused Paul of stirring up division, of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes and of trying to profane the temple.
What does the name Tertullus mean?
Tertullus is a Latin name, generally understood as a diminutive of Tertius. The Bible does not comment on the name and says nothing of his family or origin. He should not be confused with Tertullian, a Christian author from Carthage who lived more than a century later.
Where is the story of Tertullus found in the Bible?
Tertullus appears in Acts 24:1-9, where he delivers his speech of accusation. Also read Paul's answer in the rest of the chapter (Acts 24:10-21), as well as the end of Acts 23, which explains why Paul was transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea before Governor Felix.