Atos 24

¹ And after five days, Ananias the high priest came down with the elders, and a certain orator, named Tertullus; and appeared before the governor against Paul.

² And he being called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that very worthy deeds are done to this nation by thy prudence always, and in all places, We accept it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

³ But that I may not trouble thee farther,

⁴ I beseech thee of thy clemency to hear us a few words.

⁵ For we have found this man, a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

⁶ Who hath also attempted to profane the temple; whom we seized and would have judged according to our law.

⁷ But Lysias the tribune coming upon us, with great violence took him away out of our hands,

⁸ Commanding his accusers to come to thee, whereby thou mayst thyself on examination, take knowledge of all these things of which we accuse him.

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

¹⁰ Then Paul, after the governor had made a sign to him to speak, answered, Knowing thou hast been for several years a judge to this nation, I the more chearfully answer for myself:

¹¹ As thou mayst know, that it is but twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.

¹² And they neither found me disputing with any man in the temple, nor making an insurrection among the people, either in the synagogues or in the city.

¹³ Nor can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee,

¹⁴ that after the way, which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

¹⁵ Having hope in God, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust, which they themselves also expect.

¹⁶ And for this cause do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man.

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

¹⁸ Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purifying in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult:

¹⁹ Who ought to have been present before thee, and to accuse me, if they had any thing against me.

²⁰ Or let these themselves say, what crime they found in me, when I stood before the council,

²¹ Unless it be concerning this one word, that I cried, standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question by you this day.

²² And when Felix heard these things, he put them off, saying, After I have been more accurately informed concerning this way, when Lysias the tribune cometh down, I will take full cognisance of your affair.

²³ And he commanded the centurion to keep Paul, and let him have liberty, and to hinder none of his friends from assisting or coming to him.

²⁴ And after some days, Felix coming with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as he reasoned concerning justice, temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

²⁶ And he hoped also that money would have been given him by Paul to release him; therefore he sent for him the oftner, and discoursed with him.

²⁷ But after two years, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus: and Felix desiring to gratify the Jews, left Paul bound.