Acts 24
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
Now after fiue dayes, Ananias the hie Priest came downe with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certaine oratour, which appeared before the Gouernour against Paul.
2 When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.
And when he was called foorth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we haue obtained great quietnesse through thee, and that many worthy things are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence,
3 In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
We acknowledge it wholy, and in all places most noble Felix, with all thankes,
4 But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.
But that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy courtesie a fewe wordes.
5 We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
Certainely we haue found this man a pestilent fellowe, and a moouer of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world, and a chiefe maintainer of the secte of the Nazarites:
6 and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore wee tooke him, and woulde haue iudged him according to our Lawe:
But the chiefe captaine Lysias came vpon vs, and with great violence tooke him out of our handes,
8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”
Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.
9 The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
And the Iewes likewise affirmed, saying that it was so.
10 When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
Then Paul, after that the gouernour had beckened vnto him that hee shoulde speake, answered, I do the more gladly answere for my selfe, for as much as I knowe that thou hast bene of many yeres a iudge vnto this nation,
11 You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
Seeing that thou mayest knowe, that there are but twelue dayes since I came vp to worship in Hierusalem.
12 Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
And they neither found mee in the Temple disputing with any man, neither making vproare among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the citie.
13 Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.
Neither can they proue the things, whereof they now accuse me.
14 I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way (which they call heresie) so worship I the God of my fathers, beleeuing all things which are written in the Lawe and the Prophets,
15 and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselues looke for also, shalbe both of iust and vniust.
16 In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
And herein I endeuour my selfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towarde God, and toward men.
17 After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
Now after many yeres, I came and brought almes to my nation and offerings.
18 At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
At what time, certaine Iewes of Asia founde mee purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
Who ought to haue bene present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.
20 Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
Or let these themselues say, if they haue found any vniust thing in mee, while I stoode in the Council,
21 unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
Except it be for this one voyce, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.
22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”
Nowe when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more perfectly know the things which concerne this way, by the comming of Lysias the chiefe Captaine, I will decise your matter.
23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
Then hee commanded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and that he should haue ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister vnto him, or to come vnto him.
24 After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
And after certaine dayes, came Felix with his wife Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and he called foorth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.
25 As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
And as he disputed of righteousnes and temperance, and of the iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I haue conuenient time, I will call for thee.
26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
Hee hoped also that money shoulde haue bene giuen him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore hee sent for him the oftner, and communed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
When two yeeres were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix roume: and Felix willing to get fauour of the Iewes, left Paul bound.
