Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 24:2

"And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by the providence evils are corrected for this nation," — Acts 24:2 (ASV)

Seeing that by you we enjoy great quietness.—The orator had, it would seem, learned the trick of his class and begins with propitiating the judge by flattery. The administration of Felix did not present much opening for panegyric, but he had at least taken strong measures to put down the gangs of sicarii and brigands by whom Palestine was infested (Josephus, Antiquities 20.8, §5; Wars 2.13, §2), and Tertullus shows his skill in the emphasis which he lays on “quietness.” By a somewhat interesting coincidence, Tacitus (Annals 12.54), after narrating the disturbances caused by a quarrel between Felix, backed by the Samaritans, and Ventidius Cumanus, who had been appointed as governor of Galilee, ends his statement by relating that Felix was supported by Quadratus, the president of Syria: “et quies provinciæ reddita.”

That very worthy deeds...—Better, reforms, or improvements; the better manuscripts giving a word that expresses this meaning, and the others one that implies it. This, as before, represents one aspect of the procurator’s administration. On the other hand, within two years of this time, he was recalled from his province, accused by the Jews at Rome, and only escaped punishment by the intervention of his brother Pallas, then as high in favor with Nero as he had been with Claudius (Josephus, Antiquities 20.8, §10).

By your providence...—The Greek word had at this time, like the English, a somewhat higher sense than “prudence” or “forethought.” Men spoke then, as now, of the “providence” of God, and the tendency to clothe the emperors with quasi-divine attributes led to the appearance of this word—“the providence of Caesar”—on their coins and on medals struck in their honor. Tertullus, after his manner, goes one step further, and extends the term to the procurator of Judea.