a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world: A Roman court would have taken this charge very seriously. This language presents him as someone who causes unrest. It reflects a charge of political sedition (acting against the state), which a Roman court would have treated as a serious crime (see 16:21; 17:7; 18:13). People made similar accusations against Jesus to Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:2, 5, 14).
sect: This term is used here in a negative way. It suggests that Paul's faith was suspicious or even unlawful (see also Acts 24:14).