Atos 24

¹ And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders and [with] a certain orator, Tertullus, who made a statement to the governor against Paul.

² And being called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying,

³ Since we enjoy great quietness by you, and very worthy deeds are done to this nation due to your forethought, in everything and everywhere, most noble Felix, we accept with all thankfulness.

⁴ But that I not hinder you further, I beseech you to hear us briefly in your fairness.

⁵ For we have found this man pestilent, and moving rebellion among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

⁶ who also attempted to profane the temple, whom we took and would have judged according to our law.

⁷ But the chiliarch Lysias came with much force, taking [him] away out of our hands,

⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him, you yourself may know about all these things of which we accuse him.

⁹ And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

¹⁰ But the governor motioning to him to speak, Paul answered; Understanding you as being a judge of this nation many years, I cheerfully defend myself [as to] the things concerning myself.

¹¹ You can know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

¹² And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, nor making a gathering of a crowd; not even in the synagogues, nor throughout the city.

¹³ Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

¹⁴ But I confess this to you, that after the Way which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

¹⁵ And I have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of [the] dead, both of the just and unjust.

¹⁶ And in this I exercise myself, always to have a blameless conscience toward God and men.

¹⁷ And after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation.

¹⁸ Among which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with tumult.

¹⁹ These ought to be present before you and to accuse me, if they have anything against me.

²⁰ Or else let these themselves say if they have found anything unjust in me while I stood before the sanhedrin,

²¹ unless it may be for this one voice that I cried out standing among them, that concerning a resurrection of [the] dead I am being judged by you today.

²² And having heard these things, Felix put them off, knowing more accurately of the Way, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch has come down, I will examine the things concerning you.

²³ And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul and to let [him] have liberty, and not to forbid anyone of his own to minister or come to him.

²⁴ Then after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and the Judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, Go for this time, but taking time later, I will call for you.

²⁶ He also hoped that silver would be given him by Paul, that he might free him. Therefore [he] also frequently sent for him [and] talked with him.

²⁷ But after two years Felix welcomed a successor, Porcius Festus. And wishing to show a favor to the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.