And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. (2) 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, (3) We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. (4) Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. (5) For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: (6) Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judge d according to our law. (7) But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, (8) Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. (9) And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
In all this flaming speech there is not a single charge except that of being a follower of Christ, whom by way of contempt they called the Nazarene. A pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition, were general words of abuse, and without proof. And although this orator prefaced his accusation of Paul with a fulsome compliment to Felix, yet the whole offence of the Apostle was for preaching Christ. And the chief priest, Ananias, and the Jews, could find nothing beside to criminate the Apostle!
But they were all unconscious, while charging Paul as a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, what indirect honor they were thereby conferring on the Apostle. If the Reader will consult my Poor Man's Concordance, under the article Nazarene, he will there see the subject treated somewhat largely. I shall only here therefore observe, that as the Lord Jesus was specially and peculiarly called the Nazarene, being in fact in his human nature the only Nazarite to God; it was the highest of all possible honors to call Paul a ringleader of the holy order. The word is derived from Netzar, signifying separated. And in reference to Christ, it means the peculiar separation of that holy portion of our nature, underived from the fallen stock, but formed by the overshadowing power of the Holy Ghost, and sanctified to the vast purpose of union with the Godhead. So personally and peculiarly is Christ, as Christ, the true Nazarite, yea, the only Nazarite, to whom all others were but types and shadows, Lamentations 4:7
And it is worthy our closest observation, in proof of this, as if Jehovah would have Christ specially known by this name, that the Lord Jesus is by way of eminency so distinguished both in heaven and earth, by angels, devils, yea, by the Lord himself, who sweetly called himself by the name from heaven, when speaking to the Apostle Paul, The Apostles: John 1:45, Angels: Mark 16:6, Roman soldiers: John 18:5, The servant maid in Pilate's hall: Matthew 26:71, Pilate himself: John 19:19, Christ's servants in working miracles: Acts 3:6 and Acts 4:10, Devils: Mark 1:24, And our dear Lord himself: Acts 22:8. Reader! these are sweet testimonies to this one great point, when that point is considered in terms equal to its importance, that Jesus Christ is the one and only Nazarite to God.