Actes 24
1 Cinq jours après, le grand prêtre Ananias descendit avec quelques anciens et un orateur, un certain Tertullus. Ils informèrent le gouverneur contre Paul.
Five days later Ananias the high priest, [having heard that Paul was now in Caesarea], went down [there from Jerusalem], along with some [other Jewish] elders and a lawyer [whose name was] Tertullus. There they formally told the governor what Paul had done [that they considered] wrong.
2 Lorsqu'il fut appelé, Tertullus se mit à l'accuser, en disant: Puisque par toi nous jouissons d'une grande paix, et que, par ta prévoyance, la prospérité arrive à cette nation,
[The governor commanded] Paul to be brought {[a soldier] to bring Paul} in. [When Paul arrived], Tertullus began to accuse him. He said [to the governor], “Honorable Governor Felix, during the many years that you [(sg)] have ruled us, we [(exc)] have lived well/peacefully. By planning wisely, you have improved many things in this province.
3 nous l'acceptons de toutes les manières et en tous lieux, très excellent Félix, avec toute reconnaissance.
[Therefore], sir, we [(exc)] always gratefully acknowledge everything that [you have done] for all [of us], wherever [you have done those things].
4 Mais, pour ne pas vous retarder, je vous prie de nous supporter et d'écouter quelques mots.
But, so that I will not take up too much of your time, I earnestly request that you kindly listen to me very briefly.
5 Car nous avons trouvé que cet homme était un fléau, un instigateur d'insurrections parmi tous les Juifs du monde entier, et un chef de la secte des Nazaréens.
We [(exc)] have observed that this man, [wherever he goes], causes trouble. [Specifically], he causes all the Jews everywhere [HYP] to riot. [Also], he leads the entire group [whom people call] ‘the followers of the Nazarene’, a [false] sect.
6 Il a même essayé de profaner le temple, et nous l'avons arrêté.
He even tried to do things in the Temple [in Jerusalem] that would (defile it/make it unholy). So we [(exc)] seized him.
But Lysias, the commander at the Roman fort, came with his soldiers and forcefully took him away from us [SYN].
8 En l'examinant vous-même, vous pourrez vous assurer de toutes ces choses dont nous l'accusons. »
Lysias also commanded Paul’s accusers to come here and accuse Paul before you. If you question him yourself, you will be able to learn that all these things about which we are accusing him are true.”
9 Les Juifs aussi se joignirent à l'attaque, affirmant que ces choses étaient vraies.
When the Jewish [leaders who were listening heard that, they] told [the governor that] what Tertullus had said was true.
10 Le gouverneur lui ayant fait signe de parler, Paul prit la parole et dit: Puisque je sais que tu es depuis longtemps juge de cette nation, j'accepte volontiers de me défendre,
Then the governor motioned with [his hand to Paul that] he should speak. So Paul replied. He said, “[Governor Felix, I know that you(sg) have judged this Jewish] province for many years. Therefore I gladly defend myself, confident [that you will listen to me and will judge me fairly].
11 puisque tu peux vérifier qu'il n'y a pas plus de douze jours que je suis monté à Jérusalem pour adorer.
You [(sg)] can [easily] ascertain that (it has not been more than twelve days since/only twelve days ago) I went up went up to Jerusalem to worship [God. That is not enough time to cause a lot of trouble].
12 On ne m'a pas trouvé dans le temple en train de disputer avec quelqu'un ou de soulever une foule, ni dans les synagogues ni dans la ville.
No one [can claim legitimately that they] saw me arguing with anyone at the Temple courts [because I did not do that. No one can claim legitimately that they saw me] causing people to riot in [any Jewish meeting place], or causing trouble anywhere [else] in [Jerusalem] city, [because I did not do that].
13 Ils ne peuvent pas non plus vous prouver les choses dont ils m'accusent maintenant.
So they cannot prove to you the things about which they are now accusing me.
14 Mais je vous confesse que, selon la voie qu'ils appellent secte, je sers le Dieu de nos pères, croyant à tout ce qui est conforme à la loi et à ce qui est écrit dans les prophètes,
But I admit to you [(sg) that this is true]: I do worship the God that our ancestors [worshipped. It is true that] I follow the way that [Jesus taught us]. The Jewish leaders call that a false religion/teaching. I also believe everything that was written [by Moses] {that [Moses wrote]} in the laws that [God gave him], and everything that was written by the [other] prophets {that the [other] prophets wrote} [in their books] [MTY].
15 espérant en Dieu, ce qu'ils espèrent eux-mêmes, qu'il y aura une résurrection des morts, tant des justes que des injustes.
I confidently expect, just like [some of] these men also expect, that [some day God] will cause everyone who has died to become alive again. He will (cause to become alive again/raise from the dead) both those who were righteous and those who were wicked.
16 C'est ce que je pratique aussi, ayant toujours une conscience exempte d'offense envers Dieu et envers les hommes.
[Because I am confidently waiting for that day], I always try to do what pleases God and what other people think is right.
17 Or, après quelques années, je suis venu apporter à ma nation des dons pour les indigents et des offrandes;
After I [had been in other places for] several years, I returned to Jerusalem. I went there to deliver some money to my fellow Jews [who are] poor, and to offer sacrifices [to God].
18 au milieu desquelles quelques Juifs d'Asie m'ont trouvé purifié dans le temple, non pas avec une foule, ni avec du tumulte.
Some [Jews] saw me in the temple [courts] after I had completed the ritual by which a person is made {that makes a person} pure. There was no crowd with me, and I was not causing [people] to riot.
19 Ils auraient dû se présenter ici devant vous et porter plainte, s'ils avaient quelque chose contre moi.
But it was some [other] Jews [who had come] from Asia [province who really caused people to riot. They] should be here in front of you [(sg)] to accuse me, if they thought that I [did] something [wrong].
20 Ou bien, que ces hommes disent eux-mêmes quelle injustice ils ont trouvée en moi quand je me suis présenté devant le conseil,
[But if they] do not [want to do that] (OR, [But because they] are [not] here), these [Jewish] men who are here should tell you [(sg)] what [they think] I did that was wrong, when I [defended myself] before their Council.
21 à moins que ce ne soit pour cette seule raison que je me sois écrié au milieu d'eux: « C'est à propos de la résurrection des morts que je suis jugé aujourd'hui devant vous. »
[They might say that] one thing that I shouted as I stood before them [was wrong. What I said] was, ‘You are judging me today because I believe that [God] will (cause [all people] who have died to become alive again/raise [all people] from the dead).’”
22 Mais Félix, qui avait une connaissance plus précise de la voie, les reporta en disant: « Quand Lysias, le commandant, sera descendu, je déciderai de ton cas. »
Felix already knew quite a lot about [what people called] ‘the way [of Jesus’]. But he did not let Paul or his accusers continue to speak. [Instead], he said [to them], “[Later], when Commander Lysias comes down here, I will decide these matters that concern you all.”
23 Il ordonna au centurion de garder Paul et de lui accorder quelques privilèges, et de n'interdire à aucun de ses amis de le servir ou de lui rendre visite.
Then he told the officer [who was guarding Paul] to [take Paul back to the prison and] make sure that he was guarded all the time. But he said that Paul was not to be chained {that the officer was not to fasten chains on him}, and if his friends came to visit him, [the officer] should allow them to help Paul [in any way that they wished].
24 Quelques jours après, Félix, accompagné de Drusilla, sa femme, qui était juive, fit venir Paul et l'entendit sur la foi en Jésus-Christ.
Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew, came [back to Caesarea after having been away for a few days]. Felix [commanded] Paul to be brought in {[a soldier to] bring Paul in}. Then Felix listened to what Paul [said to him]. Paul spoke about what [Christians] believe about the Messiah Jesus.
25 Comme il discourait sur la justice, la maîtrise de soi et le jugement à venir, Félix fut terrifié et lui répondit: « Va-t'en pour le moment, et quand cela me conviendra, je te convoquerai. »
Paul explained [to them about what God requires people] to do in order to please him. [He also explained about God requiring people to] control how they act. [Paul also told him that there will be a time when God] will judge [people]. Felix became alarmed [after hearing those things. So] he said to Paul, “That is all I [want to hear] now. When there is a time that is convenient I will ask you [(sg)] to come [to me again].”
26 Entre-temps, il espérait aussi que Paul lui donnerait de l'argent, afin de le libérer. C'est pourquoi il l'envoyait chercher plus souvent et s'entretenait avec lui.
[Felix said that because] he hoped that Paul would give him some money [to allow Paul to get out of prison]. So he repeatedly sent for Paul to come, and Paul [repeatedly went and] talked with him. [But he] did not [give Felix any money, and Felix did not command his soldiers to release Paul from prison].
27 Deux ans plus tard, Porcius Festus succéda à Félix. Désireux de s'attirer les faveurs des Juifs, Félix laissa Paul en prison.
Felix let Paul remain in prison, because he wanted to please the Jewish [leaders and he knew that they did not want him to release Paul]. But when two years had passed, Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix.
