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.
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 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;
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 so with all thankfulness we welcome everything that you do, most excellent Felix.
in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.
4 So that I detain you no more, I ask you to briefly listen to me with kindness.
But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.
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 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 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.
8 When you question Paul about all these matters, you will be able to learn about these charges we are bringing against him.”
You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."
9 The Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these charges were true.
The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts.
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, 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 You will be able to find out that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in 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 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 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 They cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against me.
Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against 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 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 I have the same confident hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
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 So I always strive to have a clear conscience before God and human beings.
This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.
17 Now after many years I came to bring help to my nation and gifts of money.
"Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
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.
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 These men ought to be before you now and say what they have against me, if they have anything.
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 else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council,
Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
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.'”
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 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.”
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 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 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 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.
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 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.”
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 At the same time he wanted Paul to give money to him, so he often sent for him and spoke 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 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.
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.
