Actuum Apostolorum 24
1 post quinque autem dies descendit princeps sacerdotum Ananias cum senioribus quibusdam et Tertullo quodam oratore qui adierunt praesidem adversus Paulum
SO after five days Ananias the high-priest went down with the elders, and a certain rhetorician, Tertullus, who made their appearance before the governor against Paul.
2 et citato Paulo coepit accusare Tertullus dicens cum in multa pace agamus per te et multa corrigantur per tuam providentiam
And he being summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Since by thee we enjoy so much peace, and such noble acts are happily performed for this nation by thy provident administration,
3 semper et ubique suscipimus optime Felix cum omni gratiarum actione
always and in all places we acknowledge it, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude.
4 ne diutius autem te protraham oro breviter audias nos pro tua clementia
Now that I may not be unnecessarily tedious to thee, I entreat thee to hear us briefly with thy wonted candour.
5 invenimus hunc hominem pestiferum et concitantem seditiones omnibus Iudaeis in universo orbe et auctorem seditionis sectae Nazarenorum
For we found this fellow a pest to society, and exciting sedition among all the Jews throughout the whole world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazareans:
6 qui etiam templum violare conatus est quem et adprehendimus
who even attempted to profane the temple: we seized him therefore, and intended to judge him according to our own law.
But Lysias the tribune came, and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8 a quo poteris ipse iudicans de omnibus istis cognoscere de quibus nos accusamus eum
commanding his accusers to appear before thee: whereby thou mayest thyself be able after examination to know the certainty of those things whereof we accuse him.
9 adiecerunt autem et Iudaei dicentes haec ita se habere
Then the Jews also joined in affirming, that these things were so.
10 respondit autem Paulus annuente sibi praeside dicere ex multis annis esse te iudicem genti huic sciens bono animo pro me satisfaciam
But Paul (the governor having made him a sign to speak) replied, Knowing that for so many years thou hast been the judge of this nation, I with the more confidence offer my defence respecting the matters which concern me:
11 potes enim cognoscere quia non plus sunt dies mihi quam duodecim ex quo ascendi adorare in Hierusalem
as thou mayest be ascertained, that it is not more than twelve days ago since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 et neque in templo invenerunt me cum aliquo disputantem aut concursum facientem turbae neque in synagogis neque in civitate
And neither in the temple found they me disputing with any man, nor raising any sedition among the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13 neque probare possunt tibi de quibus nunc accusant me
neither can they produce any proof of the facts of which they accuse me.
14 confiteor autem hoc tibi quod secundum sectam quam dicunt heresim sic deservio patrio Deo meo credens omnibus quae in lege et prophetis scripta sunt
But this I confess to thee, that after the way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of our ancestors, believing all things that are written in the law, and in the prophets:
15 spem habens in Deum quam et hii ipsi expectant resurrectionem futuram iustorum et iniquorum
and having hope in God, the same which they also profess to look for, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.
16 in hoc et ipse studeo sine offendiculo conscientiam habere ad Deum et ad homines semper
For this cause indeed I exert my utmost care to keep my conscience ever unoffending towards God and towards man.
17 post annos autem plures elemosynas facturus in gentem meam veni et oblationes et vota
Now after many years absence I was returned bringing alms to my countrymen, and oblations to the temple.
18 in quibus invenerunt me purificatum in templo non cum turba neque cum tumultu
In the discharge of which offices certain Jews of Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a multitude, nor with any tumult.
19 quidam autem ex Asia Iudaei quos oportebat apud te praesto esse et accusare si quid haberent adversum me
Who ought to have appeared before thee, and prefer their accusation, if they had any thing against me.
20 aut hii ipsi dicant si quid invenerunt in me iniquitatis cum stem in concilio
Or let the persons themselves here present say, if they found any thing criminal in me, when I stood before the sanhedrim,
21 nisi de una hac solummodo voce qua clamavi inter eos stans quoniam de resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor hodie a vobis
except for this one sentence, which I uttered aloud when I was standing among them, For the resurrection of the dead am I this day judged by you.
22 distulit autem illos Felix certissime sciens de via dicens cum tribunus Lysias descenderit audiam vos
When Felix then heard these things he put them off, (for he knew very exactly all that related to that way, ) saying, When Lysias the tribune is come down, I will inquire thoroughly into the matters between you.
23 iussitque centurioni custodiri eum et habere requiem nec quemquam prohibere de suis ministrare ei
And he commanded the centurion that Paul should be safe kept, yet have no close confinement, and not to hinder any of his friends from supplying his wants, or visiting him.
24 post aliquot autem dies veniens Felix cum Drusilla uxore sua quae erat Iudaea vocavit Paulum et audivit ab eo fidem quae est in Iesum Christum
Now after some days, Felix returning with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 disputante autem illo de iustitia et castitate et de iudicio futuro timefactus Felix respondit quod nunc adtinet vade tempore autem oportuno accersiam te
And as he discoursed of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment which is ready to be revealed, Felix being greatly terrified, replied, Go, for the present, I will some time hence take another opportunity of calling for thee.
26 simul et sperans quia pecunia daretur a Paulo propter quod et frequenter accersiens eum loquebatur cum eo
Indeed he had also entertained hope that money would be given him by Paul, in order to release him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and conversed with him.
27 biennio autem expleto accepit successorem Felix Porcium Festum volens autem gratiam praestare Iudaeis Felix reliquit Paulum vinctum
But when two years were ended, Felix had Portius Festus appointed for his successor: and willing to curry favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in chains.
