And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
A recent encounter with a church’s call committee included a conversation with our District President. I had worked with the committee for some time, and we had great respect for each other. There was not a problem per se, but the committee members were a bit anxious about the slow progress in getting a new pastor. So they called in the head guy. They wanted to hear from him about the process and progress they were experiencing. I’m glad to say that the conversation was very salutary, reassuring, and encouraging to the committee. Part of that encouragement, however, was somewhat backhanded. They learned that these processes do take a long time. They were facing nothing unusual. Fears allayed. But need for patience remained.
There is a different kind of encounter with church higher-ups recorded here. Ananias is the chief priest. That’s a high as you can go in the Jewish line of command during those days. But he, himself, will not bring the charges against Paul. That’s the job of Tertullus, a spokesman for the Jewish leaders. The chief prosecutor so to speak. Think big guns. Think Felix will surely listen to him. Think connections.
It’s a bit like when the seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons by saying, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Didn’t work for them. They were sent running from the house beaten and bleeding (cf. Acts 19:13-16). Neither will the big guns work for Ananias or the Jewish leaders against Paul.
The charges leveled against Paul were that they found Paul to be a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. It is true that there had been riots in several places Paul had preached. But these were not stirred up by Paul, but by those who opposed his teachings. And while the message of Jesus is truly counter-cultural, Jesus never sought to stir up a riot. Far from it, he calmed people and preached peace. The one exception was when he overturned the money-changers’ tables in the temple.
You know you’ve gotten to someone when they resort to false-charges, and big guns. Paul has done this – just as Jesus did. But he’s not afraid of big guns. He fears God, loves and trusts in him. Such a faith will stand strong against an arsenal of false threats. We’re seldom called upon to face such threats. But if we ever are, may we make a good defense – just as we will soon hear from Paul. Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say in defence of his gospel message – no matter how big the guns may be.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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