Acts 24
1 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.
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 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,
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 in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.
we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.
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 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.
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 attempted to profane the Temple, but 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 You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege 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 charge, maintaining that these were facts.
And the Jews also gave their assent, saying, that these things were so.
10 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.
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 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;
since you may know that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem;
12 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.
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 prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.
nor can they produce any proof of the things concerning which they now accuse me.
14 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,
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 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.
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 This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.
And upon this account, I exercise myself to have always a conscience without offense toward God, and toward men.
17 "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
Now, after several years, I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
18 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.
upon which some Asiatic Jews found me purified in the temple; neither with multitude nor with tumult;
19 They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.
who ought to have been present before you, and to accuse me, if they had anything against me:
20 Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
or let these themselves say, if, when I stood before the Sanhedrim,
21 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.'"
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 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."
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 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.
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 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.
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 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."
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 hoped that Paul would give him money; and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse 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 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.
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.
