Acts 24

¹And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an advocate, a certain Tertullus, and they brought charges before the governor against Paul.

²And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: 'Since we are enjoying much peace through you, and reforms are being accomplished for this nation through your foresight,

³in every way and everywhere we acknowledge this, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

⁴But so that I may not detain you any further, I implore you to hear us briefly, in your clemency.

⁵For we have found this man to be a plague and one who stirs up insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

⁶He even attempted to profane the temple, and we seized him —

⁷But Lysias the commander came and with great force took him out of our hands,

⁸ordering his accusers to come before you — from whom you yourself, by examining him, will be able to learn all these things of which we accuse him.

⁹The Jews also joined in the attack, declaring that these things were so.

¹⁰And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul answered: 'Because I know that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I make my defense with good cheer.

¹¹You are able to verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

¹²And they did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city.

¹³Nor are they able to prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

¹⁴But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything that is written according to the Law and in the Prophets.

¹⁵having a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

¹⁶In this I also always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and people.

¹⁷Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings.

¹⁸during which they found me in the temple purified, not with a crowd nor with any tumult.

¹⁹who ought to be present before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.

²⁰Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Council,

²¹or concerning this one utterance that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today.'

²²But Felix, having heard these things and knowing the Way more accurately, adjourned them, saying, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.'

²³He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, and to let him have some liberty, and to prevent none of his own people from serving him or visiting him.

²⁴And after some days Felix arrived with Drusilla his own wife, who was a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁵And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and answered, 'Go away for now; and when I find an opportunity I will summon you.'

²⁶At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given him by Paul, so he would send for him frequently and talked with him.

²⁷When two years had elapsed, Felix received Porcius Festus as his successor; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.