Acts 24

1 And after five days came down the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator — Tertullus, and they made manifest to the governor [the things] 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 he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, 'Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought,

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 always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;

But, that I do not delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

5 for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world — a ringleader also of the sect of the Nazarenes —

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 who also the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,

He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him. And we would have judged him according to our law,

7 and Lysias the chief captain having come near, with much violence, out of our hands did take away,

but the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him;'

commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."

9 and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.

The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

10 And Paul answered — the governor having beckoned to him to speak — 'Knowing [that] for many years thou hast been a judge to this nation, the more cheerfully the things concerning myself I do answer;

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 thou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

seeing that you can recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.

12 and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in 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 nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.

Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

14 'And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,

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 having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;

having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection, both of the just and unjust.

16 and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

This being so, I also do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and people.

17 'And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

18 in which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,

amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.

19 whom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,

They ought to have been here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me.

20 or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,

21 except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them — Concerning a rising again of the dead I am judged to-day by you.'

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 And having heard these things, Felix delayed them — having known more exactly of the things concerning the way — saying, 'When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you;'

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 having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.

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 And after certain days, Felix having come with Drusilla his wife, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith toward Christ,

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 and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, 'For the present be going, and having got time, I will call for thee;'

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 and at the same time also hoping that money shall be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him the oftener, he was conversing 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 and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favour on the Jews, left Paul bound.

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.