Acts 24
1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.
Five days afterward the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a barrister named Tertullus. They laid an information with the Governor against Paul;
2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight,
and, when the hearing came on, Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution.
3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
“We owe it to your Excellency,” he said, “that we are enjoying profound peace, and we owe it to your foresight that this nation is constantly securing reforms – advantages which we very gratefully accept at all times and places.
4 But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
But – not to be tedious – I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case.
5 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.
We have found this man a public pest; he is one who stirs up disputes among our people all the world over, and is a ringleader of the Nazarene heretics.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.
He even attempted to desecrate the Temple itself, but we caught him;
8 By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
and you will be able, by examining him on all these points, to satisfy yourself as to the charges which we are bringing against him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
The Jewish crowd also joined in the attack and bore out his statements.
10 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,
On a sign from the Governor, Paul made this reply: “Knowing, as I do, for how many years you have acted as judge to this nation, it is with confidence that I undertake my own defense.
11 seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
For you can easily verify that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
12 In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
where my prosecutors never found me holding discussions with anyone, or causing a crowd to collect – either in the Temple, or in the synagogues, or about the city;
13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
and they cannot establish the charges which they are now making against me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to 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;
This, however, I do acknowledge to you, that it is as a believer in the Way which they call heretical, that I worship the God of my ancestors. At the same time, I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the prophets;
15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
and I have a hope that rests in God – a hope which they also cherish – that there will one day be a resurrection of good and bad alike.
16 In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and people.
17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
After some years’ absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings;
18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.
and it was while engaged in this that they found me in the Temple, after completing a period of purification, but not with any crowd or disorder.
19 They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me.
There were, however, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me –
20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,
Or else let my opponents here say what they found wrong in me when I was before the Council,
21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”
except as to the one sentence that I shouted out as I stood among them – ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial before you today’.”
22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”
Felix, however, adjourned the case – though he had a fairly accurate knowledge of all that concerned the Way – with the promise, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will give my decision in your case.”
23 He ordered the centurion that Paul 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.
So he gave orders to the centurion in charge of Paul to keep him in custody, but to relax the regulations, and not to prevent any of his personal friends from attending to his wants.
24 After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and, sending for Paul, listened to what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 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.”
But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him – “Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again.”
26 Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him.
He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.
27 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.
But, after the lapse of two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and, wishing to gain popularity with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul a prisoner.
