What does Acts 24:9 mean?

Tertullus, the Sanhedrin's lawyer, has presented his case against Paul in the court of Governor Felix. Paul is accused of being a "plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple" (Acts 24:5–6).

Now, the "Jews" affirm Tertullus's claims. "Jews" in these New Testament contexts usually means Jewish religious leaders. Here, it means the high priest Ananias and the elders who came with him (Acts 24:1).

It is true that Paul was involved in a melee in Jerusalem, but not because he initiated it. He was attacked by a mob when falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. Paul's words in Acts 24:18–21 seem to suggest that none of these Jews were at the temple when the riot occurred (Acts 21:27–36). They only know what happened the next morning when Lysias brought Paul to the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30–23:11). That means that the chief priest and the elders of the Sanhedrin are literally breaking the 9th Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).

After Paul gives his testimony, Felix announces he will wait to render judgment until he receives the testimony of the Roman tribune stationed in Jerusalem (Acts 24:22). The tribune never appears, however. To placate the Jewish leaders and attempt to elicit a bribe from Paul, Felix keeps Paul under house arrest until Felix is replaced by Porcius Festus two years later (Acts 24:27).