Acts 24
1 After five days, Ananias the chief priest, certain elders, and an orator named Tertullus went there. These men brought charges against Paul before the governor.
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 When Paul stood before the governor, Tertullus began to accuse him and said to the governor, “Because of you we have great peace, and your foresight brings good reform to our nation;
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 so with all thankfulness we welcome everything that you do, most excellent Felix.
we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 So that I detain you no more, I ask you to briefly listen to me with kindness.
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 to be a pest and one who causes all the Jews throughout the world to rebel. He is a leader of the Nazarene sect.
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 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
who has attempted to profane the temple; and whom we apprehended, and would have judged according to our law;
but Lysias, the commander, coming upon us with a great force, took him away out of our hands,
8 When you question Paul about all these matters, you will be able to learn about these charges we are bringing against him.”
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 The Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these charges were true.
And the Jews also gave their assent, saying, that these things were so.
10 But when the governor motioned for Paul to speak, Paul answered, “I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, and so I gladly explain myself to you.
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 You will be able to find out that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
since you may know that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem;
12 When they found me in the temple, I did not argue with anyone, and I did not stir up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.
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 They cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against me.
nor can they produce any proof of the things concerning which they now accuse me.
14 But I admit this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, in that same way I serve the God of our fathers. I am faithful to all that is in the law and the writings of the prophets.
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 I have the same confident hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
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 So I always strive to have a clear conscience before God and human beings.
And upon this account, I exercise myself to have always a conscience without offense toward God, and toward men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring help to my nation and gifts of money.
Now, after several years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
18 When I did this, certain Jews from Asia found me in a purification ceremony in the temple, not with a crowd or an uproar.
upon which some Asiatic Jews found me purified in the temple; neither with multitude nor with tumult;
19 These men ought to be before you now and say what they have against me, if they have anything.
who ought to have been present before you, and to accuse me, if they had anything against me:
20 Or else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council,
or let these themselves say, if, when I stood before the Sanhedrim,
21 unless it is about this one thing that I shouted out when I stood among them, 'It is concerning the resurrection of those who have died that I am on trial before you today.'”
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 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, ajourned the hearing. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down from Jerusalem, I will decide your case.”
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 Then he commanded the centurion that Paul should be kept under guard, but to have some freedom so that none of his friends would be prevented from attending to his needs.
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 After some days, Felix returned with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and he heard from him about faith in Christ Jesus.
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 But when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now. But when I have the opportunity later on, I will send for you.”
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 At the same time he wanted Paul to give money to him, so he often sent for him and spoke with him.
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 But when two years passed, Porcius Festus became the governor after Felix, but Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he left Paul to continue under guard.
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.
