Acts 24

1 Now after fiue dayes, Ananias the hie Priest came downe with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certaine oratour, which appeared before the Gouernour against Paul.

Now after five days the high priest Ananias went down with the elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, and they informed the governor against Paul.

2 And when he was called foorth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we haue obtained great quietnesse through thee, and that many worthy things are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence,

So when he had been called in, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and your foresight has brought prosperity to this nation,

3 We acknowledge it wholy, and in all places most noble Felix, with all thankes,

we recognize this, most noble Felix, with full gratitude, always and everywhere.

4 But that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy courtesie a fewe wordes.

But so as not to detain you unduly, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

5 Certainely we haue found this man a pestilent fellowe, and a moouer of sedition among all the Iewes throughout the world, and a chiefe maintainer of the secte of the Nazarites:

We have found this man to be a plague, a creator of discord among all the Jews throughout the world, a ringleader of the Natsorean sect,

6 And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore wee tooke him, and woulde haue iudged him according to our Lawe:

and he even tried to profane the temple; so we arrested him.

7 But the chiefe captaine Lysias came vpon vs, and with great violence tooke him out of our handes,

8 Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.

By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 And the Iewes likewise affirmed, saying that it was so.

And the Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

10 Then Paul, after that the gouernour had beckened vnto him that hee shoulde speake, answered, I do the more gladly answere for my selfe, for as much as I knowe that thou hast bene of many yeres a iudge vnto this nation,

When the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul answered: “Knowing, as I do, that you have been an equitable judge of this nation for many years, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,

11 Seeing that thou mayest knowe, that there are but twelue dayes since I came vp to worship in Hierusalem.

because you can ascertain that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 And they neither found mee in the Temple disputing with any man, neither making vproare among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the citie.

They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd—not in the temple, not in the synagogues, not around the city.

13 Neither can they proue the things, whereof they now accuse me.

Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way (which they call heresie) so worship I the God of my fathers, beleeuing all things which are written in the Lawe and the Prophets,

But I do profess this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, that is how I worship the ancestral God, believing all things that stand written throughout the Law and the Prophets,

15 And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselues looke for also, shalbe both of iust and vniust.

having hope in God, which these themselves also look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and unjust.

16 And herein I endeuour my selfe to haue alway a cleare conscience towarde God, and toward men.

And this is why I apply myself to always have a clear conscience before both God and men.

17 Now after many yeres, I came and brought almes to my nation and offerings.

Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

18 At what time, certaine Iewes of Asia founde mee purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

in the midst of which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor confusion.

19 Who ought to haue bene present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.

They are the ones that had to be here before you and make accusation, if they had anything against me.

20 Or let these themselues say, if they haue found any vniust thing in mee, while I stoode in the Council,

Or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me, when I stood before the council,

21 Except it be for this one voyce, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.

unless it be for this one statement that I called out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you today.’”

22 Nowe when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more perfectly know the things which concerne this way, by the comming of Lysias the chiefe Captaine, I will decise your matter.

Upon hearing these things Felix, having an accurate knowledge of the things concerning the Way, adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down I will decide your case.”

23 Then hee commanded a Centurion to keepe Paul, and that he should haue ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister vnto him, or to come vnto him.

And he ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody but have some freedom, and not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or to visit him.

24 And after certaine dayes, came Felix with his wife Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, and he called foorth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.

Now after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith into Christ Jesus.

25 And as he disputed of righteousnes and temperance, and of the iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I haue conuenient time, I will call for thee.

But as he expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have occasion I will summon you.”

26 Hee hoped also that money shoulde haue bene giuen him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore hee sent for him the oftner, and communed with him.

At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, that he might release him; so he frequently summoned and conversed with him.

27 When two yeeres were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix roume: and Felix willing to get fauour of the Iewes, left Paul bound.

But after two years, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; so Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul in prison.