Acts 24
1
Now after five days Ananias the high priest
came down with the elders and a certain orator
named Tertullus. These gave evidence
to the governor against Paul.
2
And when he was called upon, Tertullus began
his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you
we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being
brought to this nation by your foresight,
3
we accept it always and in all
places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4
Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any
further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a
few words from us.
5
For we have found this man a plague, a creator
of dissension among all the Jews throughout the
world, and a ringleader of the sect of the
Nazarenes.
6
He even tried to profane the temple, and we
seized him, and wanted to judge him according to
our law.
7
But the commander Lysias came by and with great
violence took him
out of our hands,
8
commanding his accusers to come to you. By
examining him yourself you may ascertain all
these things of which we accuse him.”
9
And the Jews also assented, maintaining that
these things were so.
10
Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to
him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that
you have been for many years a judge of this
nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for
myself,
11 because you may ascertain that it is no
more than twelve days since I went up to
Jerusalem to worship.
12
And they neither found me in the temple
disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd,
either in the synagogues or in the city.
13
Nor can they prove the things of which they now
accuse me.
14
But this I confess to you, that according to the
Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God
of my fathers, believing all things which are
written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15
I have hope in God, which they themselves also
accept, that there will be a resurrection of
the dead, both of the
just and the unjust.
16
This being so, I myself always
strive to have a conscience without offense
toward God and men.
17
“Now after many years I came to bring alms
and offerings to my nation,
18
in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found
me purified in the temple, neither with a mob
nor with tumult.
19
They ought to have been here before you to
object if they had anything against me.
20
Or else let those who are here themselves say if
they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood
before the council,
21
unless it is
for this one statement which I
cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the
resurrection of the dead I am being judged by
you this day.’”
22
But when Felix heard these things, having
more accurate knowledge of the
Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said,
“When Lysias the commander comes down, I will
make a decision on your case.”
23
So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and
to let him have liberty, and told
him not to forbid any of his friends to provide
for or visit him.24
And after some days, when Felix came with his
wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul
and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25
Now as he reasoned about righteousness,
self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix
was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when
I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
26
Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be
given him by Paul, that he might release him.
Therefore he sent for him more often and
conversed with him.
27
But after two years
Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix,
wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
