Acts 24
1 Five days afterwards 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;
And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and [with] an orator, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.
2 and, when the hearing came on, Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution.
And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by thy providence evils are corrected for this nation,
3 ‘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.
we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But – not to be tedious – I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case.
But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.
5 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.
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
6 He even attempted to desecrate the Temple itself, but we caught him;
who moreover assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold:
8 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.’
from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9 The Jewish crowd also joined in the attack and bore out his statements.
And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.
10 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 defence.
And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do cheerfully make my defence:
11 For you can easily verify that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
seeing that thou canst take knowledge, that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:
12 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;
and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
13 and they cannot establish the charges which they are now making against me.
Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me.
14 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;
But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets:
15 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.
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
16 This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and people.
Herein do I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men alway.
17 After some years’ absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings;
Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:
18 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.
amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but [there were] certain Jews from Asia—
19 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 –
who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me.
20 Or else let my opponents here say what they found wrong in me when I was before the Council,
Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found, when I stood before the council,
21 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”.’
except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.
22 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.’
But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.
23 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.
And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.
24 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.
But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, which was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
25 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.’
And as he reasoned of righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.
26 He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.
He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
27 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.
But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
