Acts 24
1 Five days afterwards the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a barrister named Tertullus. They laid an information with the Governor against Paul;
After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.
2 and, when the hearing came on, Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution.
When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that by your foresight reforms are coming to this nation,
3 ‘We owe it to your Excellency,’ he said, ‘that we are enjoying profound peace, and we owe it to your foresight that this nation is constantly securing reforms – advantages which we very gratefully accept at all times and places.
we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But – not to be tedious – I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case.
But, that I do not delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
5 We have found this man a public pest; he is one who stirs up disputes among our people all the world over, and is a ringleader of the Nazarene heretics.
For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He even attempted to desecrate the Temple itself, but we caught him;
He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. And we would have judged him according to our law,
but the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 and you will be able, by examining him on all these points, to satisfy yourself as to the charges which we are bringing against him.’
commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."
9 The Jewish crowd also joined in the attack and bore out his statements.
The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
10 On a sign from the Governor, Paul made this reply: ‘Knowing, as I do, for how many years you have acted as judge to this nation, it is with confidence that I undertake my own defence.
When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, "Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,
11 For you can easily verify that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
12 where my prosecutors never found me holding discussions with anyone, or causing a crowd to collect – either in the Temple, or in the synagogues, or about the city;
In the temple they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.
13 and they cannot establish the charges which they are now making against me.
Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14 This, however, I do acknowledge to you, that it is as a believer in the Way which they call heretical, that I worship the God of my ancestors. At the same time, I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the prophets;
But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the Law, and which are written in the Prophets;
15 and I have a hope that rests in God – a hope which they also cherish – that there will one day be a resurrection of good and bad alike.
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust.
16 This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and people.
This being so, I also do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and people.
17 After some years’ absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings;
Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
18 and it was while engaged in this that they found me in the Temple, after completing a period of purification, but not with any crowd or disorder.
amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.
19 There were, however, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me –
They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.
20 Or else let my opponents here say what they found wrong in me when I was before the Council,
Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,
21 except as to the one sentence that I shouted out as I stood among them – “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial before you today”.’
unless it is for this one thing that I shouted out standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today.'"
22 Felix, however, adjourned the case – though he had a fairly accurate knowledge of all that concerned the Way – with the promise, ‘When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will give my decision in your case.’
But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, "When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case."
23 So he gave orders to the centurion in charge of Paul to keep him in custody, but to relax the regulations, and not to prevent any of his personal friends from attending to his wants.
He ordered the centurion that he should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.
24 Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and, sending for Paul, listened to what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus.
But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was Jewish, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him – ‘Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again.’
As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, "Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you."
26 He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.
Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore also he sent for him more often, and talked with him.
27 But, after the lapse of two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and, wishing to gain popularity with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul a prisoner.
But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
