Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a pest and an agitator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ...
Here we have a threefold accusation. First, Tertullus accused Paul of being a pest. A pest is full of evil "germs." Paul, however, was full of positive germs--the germs of the resurrected Christ for the propagation of Christ by imparting Him to others. We all should be such "pests." Second, Tertullus gave to Paul the title of "agitator." He accused Paul of being an agitator of insurrections among the Jews throughout the inhabited earth. Third, Tertullus claimed that Paul was a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. The word "sect" here is somewhat equal to today's word "cult." Tertullus' word indicates that the Jews regarded the believers in the Lord Jesus as Nazarenes. In chapter thirteen of Acts the believers were first called Christians in Antioch. Christians are Christ-men, those who live Christ. Here the Jews' attorney gives the believers another nickname--Nazarenes. The use of this nickname indicates that the believers were considered followers of the Nazarene, Jesus. (c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Acts, pp. 547-548. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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