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, came down the High-priest Ananias, with certain Elders and a certain orator Tertullus, and they informed 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, when he was called, Tertullus began to make accusation, saying—Seeing that, great peace, we are obtaining through thee, and that, reforms, are being brought about for this nation through thy forethought,
3 in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.
both in all ways and in all places, are we accepting it, most excellent 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, lest I too long detain thee, I beseech thee to hear us concisely in thy considerateness.
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, finding this man a pest, and moving sedition with all the Jews that are throughout the inhabited earth, a leader also of the sect of the Nazarenes, —
6 He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.
who also attempted to desecrate even, the temple, whom we also seized,
8 You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."
from whom thou shall be able, thyself, by making examination concerning all these things, to ascertain the things of which, we, are accusing him.
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts.
Moreover, the Jews also were joining in the attack, 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.
And Paul answered, when the governor had motioned him to be speaking, —Well knowing thee to have been, for many years, judge unto his nation, cheerfully, as to the things concerning myself, do I make defence;
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;
seeing thou art able to ascertain, that there are, not more, than twelve days, since I went up to worship in 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 neither, in the temple, found they me, with any one, disputing, or causing, a halt, of the multitude, either in the synagogues or throughout the city, —
13 Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.
neither can they make good the things concerning which they are, now, accusing 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 I confess, this, unto thee, —That, according to the Way which they call a Sect, so, I am rendering divine service unto my father’s God, believing in all the things which, throughout the law, and those which, in the prophets, are written:
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, towards God, which, even these themselves, do entertain—that, a resurrection, there shall certainly be, both of righteous and of unrighteous:
16 This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.
herein, even I, myself, am studying to have, an unoffending conscience, towards God and men, continually.
17 "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
Now, after many years, intending to do, alms, unto my nation, I arrived, —also [to present] offerings; among which they found me, purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with tumult;
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.
but certain Jews from Asia [caused it], —
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, before thee, to have presented themselves, and to have been laying accusation, if, anything, they might have had 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 what wrong they found, when I stood before the High-council, —
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.'"
unless concerning this one voice, wherewith I cried aloud among them, as I stood—Concerning the raising of the dead, am, I, to be judged, this day, by you.
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 Felix deferred them, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, —saying—As soon as, Lysias the captain, hath come down, I will give judgment as to your affairs, —
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.
giving orders unto the centurion, that he should be kept, and have a measure of liberty, and to be hindering, none, of his own from waiting upon 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 certain days, Felix having arrived, with Drusilla his own wife, who was, a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith, respecting Christ Jesus.
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, as he was reasoning of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix, becoming greatly afraid, answered—For the present, be going thy way, and, when I find an opportunity, I will send for thee, —
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.
at the same time, also hoping that, money, would be given him by Paul; wherefore also, the more frequently sending for him, he used to converse 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.
When, however, two years, were completed, Felix, was succeeded, by Porcius Festus, and Felix, wishing to gain favour with the Jews, left Paul bound.
