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 after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesarea with a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus. They stated to the Governor the case 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,
So Paul was sent for, and Tertullus began to impeach him as follows: "Indebted as we are," he said, "to you, most noble Felix, for the perfect peace which we enjoy, and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation,
3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.
4 But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.
5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections amongst all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.
He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.
8 By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."
9 The Judeans also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts.
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 defence,
Then, at a sign from the Governor, Paul answered, "Knowing, Sir, that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence.
11 seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in 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.
and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me.
13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing 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 Torah, and which are written in the Prophets;
But this I confess to you--that in the way which they style a heresy, I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everything that is taught in the Law or is written in the Prophets,
15 having hope towards God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
16 In this I also practise always having a conscience void of offence towards God and men.
This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.
17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
"Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.
While I was busy about these, they found me in the Temple purified, with no crowd around me and no uproar; but there were certain Jews from the province of Asia.
19 They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me.
They ought to have been here before you, and to have been my prosecutors, if they have any charge to bring against me.
20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,
Or let these men themselves say what misdemeanour they found me guilty of when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing amongst them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”
unless it was in that one expression which I made use of when I shouted out as I stood among them, "'The resurrection of the dead is the thing about which I am on my trial before you to-day.'"
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.”
At this point Felix, who was fairly well informed about the new faith, adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When the Tribune Lysias comes down, I will enter carefully into the matter."
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.
And he gave orders to the Captain that Paul was to be kept in custody, but be treated with indulgence, and that his personal friends were not to be prevented from showing him kindness.
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 Messiah Yeshua.
Not long after this, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and sending for Paul, listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgement 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 when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come, Felix became alarmed and said, "For the present leave me, and when I can find a convenient opportunity I will send for you."
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.
At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money; and for this reason he sent for him the oftener to converse with him.
27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favour with the Judeans, Felix left Paul in bonds.
But after the lapse of fully two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and being desirous of gratifying the Jews, Felix left Paul still in prison.
