Atos 24

¹ And after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These made declarations 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 providence,

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 entreat you to hear, by your fairness, a few words from us.

⁵ For we have found this man pestilent, a mover of insurrection 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 were determined 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, alleging 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 make my defense,

¹¹ because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to do homage.

¹² And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, neither in the synagogues nor throughout 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 serve 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 admit, 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 that is blameless 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 crowd nor with tumult.

¹⁹ They ought to have been here before you to accuse if they had anything against me.

²⁰ Or else let these 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 while standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.

²² And when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he postponed judgment and said, When Lysias the commander comes down, I will examine 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 became 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.