And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
When Paul was brought out, Tertullus started his accusation by buttering up the governor: 'Thanks to you, we've got peace and stability, and you've done so many good things for our people with your wise leadership.'
Sometimes the most dangerous attacks start with fake compliments.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Acts, Paul is arrested and brought to Caesarea to stand trial before Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, amid tensions between Jewish leaders and early Christians. Tertullus, a lawyer hired by the Jewish authorities, opens his accusation with flattery to curry favor with Felix, portraying him as a bringer of peace and prosperity. This reflects the common Roman practice of using rhetoric to influence officials in legal proceedings.
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