Actuum Apostolorum 24
1 post quinque autem dies descendit princeps sacerdotum Ananias cum senioribus quibusdam et Tertullo quodam oratore qui adierunt praesidem adversus Paulum
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 et citato Paulo coepit accusare Tertullus dicens cum in multa pace agamus per te et multa corrigantur per tuam providentiam
[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 semper et ubique suscipimus optime Felix cum omni gratiarum actione
[Therefore], sir, we [(exc)] always gratefully acknowledge everything that [you have done] for all [of us], wherever [you have done those things].
4 ne diutius autem te protraham oro breviter audias nos pro tua clementia
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 invenimus hunc hominem pestiferum et concitantem seditiones omnibus Iudaeis in universo orbe et auctorem seditionis sectae Nazarenorum
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 qui etiam templum violare conatus est quem et adprehendimus
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 a quo poteris ipse iudicans de omnibus istis cognoscere de quibus nos accusamus eum
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 adiecerunt autem et Iudaei dicentes haec ita se habere
When the Jewish [leaders who were listening heard that, they] told [the governor that] what Tertullus had said was true.
10 respondit autem Paulus annuente sibi praeside dicere ex multis annis esse te iudicem genti huic sciens bono animo pro me satisfaciam
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 potes enim cognoscere quia non plus sunt dies mihi quam duodecim ex quo ascendi adorare in Hierusalem
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 et neque in templo invenerunt me cum aliquo disputantem aut concursum facientem turbae neque in synagogis neque in civitate
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 neque probare possunt tibi de quibus nunc accusant me
So they cannot prove to you the things about which they are now accusing 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 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 spem habens in Deum quam et hii ipsi expectant resurrectionem futuram iustorum et iniquorum
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 in hoc et ipse studeo sine offendiculo conscientiam habere ad Deum et ad homines semper
[Because I am confidently waiting for that day], I always try to do what pleases God and what other people think is right.
17 post annos autem plures elemosynas facturus in gentem meam veni et oblationes et vota
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 in quibus invenerunt me purificatum in templo non cum turba neque cum tumultu
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 quidam autem ex Asia Iudaei quos oportebat apud te praesto esse et accusare si quid haberent adversum me
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 aut hii ipsi dicant si quid invenerunt in me iniquitatis cum stem in concilio
[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 nisi de una hac solummodo voce qua clamavi inter eos stans quoniam de resurrectione mortuorum ego iudicor hodie a vobis
[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 distulit autem illos Felix certissime sciens de via dicens cum tribunus Lysias descenderit audiam vos
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 iussitque centurioni custodiri eum et habere requiem nec quemquam prohibere de suis ministrare ei
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 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
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 disputante autem illo de iustitia et castitate et de iudicio futuro timefactus Felix respondit quod nunc adtinet vade tempore autem oportuno accersiam te
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 simul et sperans quia pecunia daretur a Paulo propter quod et frequenter accersiens eum loquebatur cum eo
[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 biennio autem expleto accepit successorem Felix Porcium Festum volens autem gratiam praestare Iudaeis Felix reliquit Paulum vinctum
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.
