Acts 24

1 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.

Five days after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesarea with a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus. They stated to the Governor the case against Paul.

2 And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,

So Paul was sent for, and Tertullus began to impeach him as follows: "Indebted as we are," he said, "to you, most noble Felix, for the perfect peace which we enjoy, and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation,

3 we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.

4 But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.

But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.

5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.

6 who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;

He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.

7 but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took [him] away with great force out of our hands,

8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee; ] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.

You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."

9 And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.

The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts.

10 But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.

Then, at a sign from the Governor, Paul answered, "Knowing, Sir, that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence.

11 As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,

For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in Jerusalem;

12 and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me.

13 neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.

Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.

14 But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers' God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;

But this I confess to you--that in the way which they style a heresy, I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everything that is taught in the Law or is written in the Prophets,

15 having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.

and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

16 For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.

This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.

17 And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.

"Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.

18 Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,

While I was busy about these, they found me in the Temple purified, with no crowd around me and no uproar; but there were certain Jews from the province of Asia.

19 who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;

They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.

20 or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,

Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

21 [other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.

unless it was in that one expression which I made use of when I shouted out as I stood among them, "'The resurrection of the dead is the thing about which I am on my trial before you to-day.'"

22 And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;

At this point Felix, who was fairly well informed about the new faith, adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When the Tribune Lysias comes down, I will enter carefully into the matter."

23 ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.

And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.

24 And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;

But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."

26 hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.

At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money; and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse with him.

27 But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.

But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.