Acts 24
1 And after five days, the high priest, Ananias, came with certain of the rulers, and an expert talker, one Tertullus; and they made a statement to Felix against Paul.
And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and a certain orator, Tertullus, who appeared to the governor against Paul.
2 And when he had been sent for, Tertullus, starting his statement, said, Because by you we are living in peace, and through your wisdom wrongs are put right for this nation,
And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Experiencing much peace because of thee, and worthy deeds happening to this nation because of thy foresight,
3 In all things and in all places we are conscious of our great debt to you, most noble Felix.
we welcome, both always and everywhere, eminent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But, so that I may not make you tired, I make a request to you of your mercy, to give hearing to a short statement.
But, that I may not detain thee on more, I entreat thee in thy clemency to hear us briefly.
5 For this man, in our opinion, is a cause of trouble, a maker of attacks on the government among Jews through all the empire, and a chief mover in the society of the Nazarenes:
For we have found this man a plague, who even instigates sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
6 Who, in addition, was attempting to make the Temple unclean: whom we took,
who also attempted to profane the temple, whom also we took,
[This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]
8 And from whom you will be able, by questioning him yourself, to get knowledge of all the things which we say against him.
from whom thou will be able, having examined him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.
9 And the Jews were in agreement with his statement, saying that these things were so.
And the Jews also agreed, claiming to have these things this way.
10 Then when the ruler had given him a sign to make his answer, Paul said, Because I have knowledge that you have been a judge over this nation for a number of years, I am glad to make my answer:
And when the governor gestured to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing for many years thou being a judge to this nation, I gladly make a defense of these things about myself,
11 Seeing that you are able to make certain of the fact that it is not more than twelve days from the time when I came up to Jerusalem for worship;
thou being able to learn that there are for me not more than twelve days from which I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 And they have not seen me in argument with any man in the Temple, or working up the feelings of the people, in the Synagogues or in the town:
And they found me neither in the temple disputing against any man, nor making a gang of a group, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
13 And they are not able to give facts in support of the things which they say against me now.
Neither can they prove against me of which things they now accuse me.
14 But this I will say openly to you, that I do give worship to the God of our fathers after that Way, which to them is not the true religion: but I have belief in all the things which are in the law and in the books of the prophets:
But this I confess to thee, that according to the Way that they call a sect, so serve I the paternal God, believing all things written according to the law and the prophets,
15 Hoping in God for that which they themselves are looking for, that there will be a coming back from the dead for upright men and wrongdoers.
having hope toward God, which they themselves also await, to come to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 And in this, I do my best at all times to have no reason for shame before God or men.
And in this I fashion myself, having a conscience always non-stumbling before God and men.
17 Now after a number of years I came to give help and offerings to my nation:
Now after more years I came, going to make donations to my nation, and offerings,
18 And having been made clean, I was in the Temple, but not with a great number of people, and not with noise: but there were certain Jews from Asia,
during which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd or with a tumult,
19 And it would have been better if they had come here to make a statement, if they have anything against me.
who ought to be here before thee, and to accuse, if they would have anything against me.
20 Or let these men here present say what wrongdoing was seen in me when I was before the Sanhedrin,
Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me, having stood before the council,
21 But only this one thing which I said among them in a loud voice, I am this day being judged on the question of the coming back from the dead.
or about this one voice that I cried out standing among them: About a resurrection of the dead I am judged by you this day.
22 But Felix, who had a more detailed knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, When Lysias, the chief captain, comes down, I will give attention to your business.
Now Felix, having heard these things, having known more precisely the things about the Way, he deferred them, having said, When Lysias the chief captain comes down, I will determine the things toward you.
23 And he gave orders to the captain to keep Paul under his control, and to let him have everything he had need of; and not to keep his friends from coming to see him.
He also arranged for the centurion to guard Paul, and to have reduced confinement, and to forbid none of his own men to serve or to come to him.
24 But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was of the Jews by birth, and sent for Paul, and gave hearing to him about faith in Christ Jesus.
And after some days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla, his wife being Jewish, he summoned Paul, and heard him about the faith in Christ.
25 And while he was talking about righteousness and self-control and the judging which was to come, Felix had great fear and said, Go away for the present, and when the right time comes I will send for you.
And as he discoursed about righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment going to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, Go now, and having a convenient time, I will summon thee.
26 For he was hoping that Paul would give him money: so he sent for him more frequently and had talk with him.
He also hoped simultaneously that money would be given him by Paul so that he might free him. And so, summoning him more frequently, he conversed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus took the place of Felix, who, desiring to have the approval of the Jews, kept Paul in chains.
But two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus. And wanting to lay down favors to the Jews, Felix left behind Paul bound.
