Acts 24

1 And, after five days, the high, Ananias, came down, with the elders, and a certain orator, named Tertullus: and they made their appearance before the governor, against Paul.

2 And he being called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, As we enjoy great peace by your means, and as illustrious deeds are happily done to this nation, by your prudent administration;

3 we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But, that I may not further trouble you, I beseech you to hear us briefly, with your usual candor.

5 for we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world; and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

6 who has attempted to profane the temple; and whom we apprehended, and would have judged according to our law;

7 but Lysias, the commander, coming upon us with a great force, took him away out of our hands,

8 commanding his accusers to come to you; by which means, you may yourself, on examination, know the certainty of all these things, of which we accuse him.

9 And the Jews also gave their assent, saying, that these things were so.

10 Then Paul, after the governor had made a signal to him to speak, answered, Knowing that you, O Felix! have been for several years a judge to this nation, I answer for myself with the more cheerfulness;

11 since you may know that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem;

12 and they neither found me disputing with any man in the temple, nor making any insurrection among the people, either in the synagogues, or in the city:

13 nor can they produce any proof of the things concerning which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of our fathers; believing all things which are written in the law, and in the prophets;

15 having hope toward God, of that which they themselves also expect, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.

16 And upon this account, I exercise myself to have always a conscience without offense toward God, and toward men.

17 Now, after several years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:

18 upon which some Asiatic Jews found me purified in the temple; neither with multitude nor with tumult;

19 who ought to have been present before you, and to accuse me, if they had anything against me:

20 or let these themselves say, if, when I stood before the Sanhedrim,

21 they found any crime in me; unless it be with relation to this one word, which I expressed, when I stood among them--that, for the resurrection of the dead, I am judged by you this day.

22 And when Felix heard these things, he put them off, saying, After I have been more accurately informed concerning this way, when Lysias, the commander, comes down, I will take cognizance of the affair between you.

23 And he commanded the centurion to keep Paul, and let him have liberty, and to hinder none of his friends from assisting him, or coming to him.

24 And, after some days, Felix, coming the Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And he reasoned concerning righteousness and temperance, and judgment to come, Felix, trembling, answered, Go your way for this time, and I will take some future opportunity to call for you.

26 And he hoped, also, that money would be given him by Paul, that he might be set at liberty: and, therefore, he sent the more frequently for him, and discoursed with him.

27 Now, after two years were ended, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus; and Felix, willing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, left Paul a prisoner.