Acts 24:9 is part of Paul’s trial before the Roman governor Felix. In verses 1–8, the high priest Ananias and the lawyer Tertullus present formal charges against Paul, accusing him of being a troublemaker and defiler of the temple. After Tertullus’ speech, verse 9 adds that the Jewish leaders present (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι) joined in the accusations, affirming that the charges were true. This verse provides the public endorsement of the claims made by Tertullus, increasing the rhetorical weight of the prosecution.
Structural Analysis
συνεπέθεντο δὲ καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι
φάσκοντες ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν.
The sentence has two main elements:
(1) συνεπέθεντο… οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι — “the Jews also joined in” (literally, “were placing with”), and
(2) a participial phrase φάσκοντες ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν — “asserting that these things were so.”
The syntax makes clear that the Jewish delegation not only approved Tertullus’ speech, but actively reinforced it with verbal agreement.
Semantic Nuances
συνεπέθεντο is the aorist middle of συνεπιτίθημι — literally “to place upon together,” often used idiomatically in Greek to mean “to join in an attack” or “to join in agreement.” In this forensic setting, it means “they joined the accusation” or “supported the charge.”
οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι refers to the Jewish accusers present — including the high priest and others in the delegation from Jerusalem who accompanied Tertullus (cf. Acts 24:1).
φάσκοντες is a present active participle of φάσκω, meaning “to affirm,” “to assert,” or “to claim.” It often has a formal or legal connotation. Their “asserting” was not casual but part of the judicial process.
ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν is a concise Greek idiom meaning “that these things are so” or “that the facts are as stated.” The phrase strengthens the rhetorical force of the accusation.
Syntactical Insight
The conjunction δὲ introduces a narrative continuation: after Tertullus spoke, the other Jews followed with their endorsement. The phrase καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι adds emphasis — not only the speaker but the whole group supports the charges.
The participial clause φάσκοντες ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχειν functions as a circumstantial participle describing how the Jews joined in — by affirming the truth of the accusations. The use of ταῦτα (“these things”) refers back to the content of Tertullus’ speech.
Historical and Cultural Background
Roman legal proceedings often relied not only on formal statements but also on collective support to give weight to an accusation. The unity of the Jewish delegation would have aimed to pressure Felix by showing that Paul was not just a private offender, but a widely opposed and politically dangerous figure.
The use of φάσκω and οὕτως ἔχειν echoes formal Greek judicial language — further indicating that Luke presents this as an official and coordinated legal effort, not an isolated protest.
Intertextuality
- Acts 7:57–58: The Jews also act in unified opposition when stoning Stephen — a pattern of collective violence.
- Acts 25:2–3: The Jewish leaders repeat the strategy of group accusation against Paul before Festus.
- Luke 23:1: “Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate…” — again, collective opposition to a righteous figure.
Hermeneutical Reflection
Acts 24:9 reminds us that the truth is not determined by numbers. Greek grammar here emphasizes unanimity (συνεπέθεντο) and legal confidence (φάσκοντες), but Luke’s narrative warns the reader: what is affirmed in chorus is not necessarily just. Paul stands alone, yet he has already said (v. 16) that he strives for a clear conscience before God and people. This contrast — between earthly courts and divine judgment — echoes throughout Acts.
When Many Speak, Who Speaks Truth?
The beauty of Greek in Acts 24:9 is its brevity and force. Just one aorist verb and a participial phrase, yet the whole machinery of false accusation is laid bare. The crowd joins in, the words are affirmed, the court nods — but Luke invites us to see beyond. The passive voice of justice is not always God’s verdict. And when all say, “these things are so,” the question is still: are they?
