Acts 24
24
Paul’s Trial in Front of Felix
1Five days later Ananias the high priest went down to Caesarea. Some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus went with him. They brought their charges against Paul to the governor. 2So Paul was called in. Tertullus began to bring the charges against Paul. He said to Felix, “We have enjoyed a long time of peace while you have been ruling. You are a wise leader. You have made this a better nation. 3Most excellent Felix, we gladly admit this everywhere and in every way. And we are very thankful. 4I don’t want to bother you. But would you be kind enough to listen to us for a short time?
5“We have found that Paul is a troublemaker. This man stirs up trouble among Jews all over the world. He is a leader of those who follow Jesus of Nazareth. 6-7He even tried to make our temple impure. So we arrested him. 8Question him yourself. Then you will learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9The other Jews said the same thing. They agreed that the charges were true.
10The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know that you have been a judge over this nation for quite a few years. So I am glad to explain my actions to you. 11About 12 days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can easily check on this. 12Those bringing charges against me did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple. I wasn’t stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13They can’t prove to you any of the charges they are making against me. 14It is true that I worship the God of our people. I am a follower of the Way of Jesus. Those bringing charges against me call it a cult. I believe everything that is in keeping with the Law. I believe everything that is in keeping with what is written in the Prophets. 15I have the same hope in God that these men themselves have. I believe that both the godly and the ungodly will rise from the dead. 16So I always try not to do anything wrong in the eyes of God or in the eyes of people.
17“I was away for several years. Then I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for those who were poor. I also came to offer sacrifices. 18They found me doing this in the temple courtyard. I had already been made pure and ‘clean’ in the usual way. There was no crowd with me. I didn’t stir up any trouble. 19But there are some other Jews who should be here in front of you. They are from Asia Minor. They should bring charges if they have anything against me. 20Let the Jews who are here tell you what crime I am guilty of. After all, I was put on trial by the Sanhedrin. 21Perhaps they blame me for what I said when I was on trial. I shouted, ‘I believe that people will rise from the dead. That is why I am on trial here today.’ ”
22Felix knew all about the Way of Jesus. So he put off the trial for the time being. “Lysias the commanding officer will come,” he said. “Then I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the commander to keep Paul under guard. He told him to give Paul some freedom. He also told him to allow Paul’s friends to take care of his needs.
24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla. She was a Jew. Felix sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25Paul talked about how to live a godly life. He talked about how people should control themselves. He also talked about the time when God will judge everyone. Then Felix became afraid. “That’s enough for now!” he said. “You may leave. When I find the time, I will send for you.” 26He was hoping that Paul would offer him some money to let him go. So he often sent for Paul and talked with him.
27Two years passed. Porcius Festus took the place of Felix. But Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he left Paul in prison.
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Acts of the Apostles 24
24
Paul’s trial before Felix
1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They pressed charges against Paul before the governor. 2After the governor summoned Paul, Tertullus began to make his case against him. He declared, “Under your leadership, we have experienced substantial peace, and your administration has brought reforms to our nation. 3Always and everywhere, most honorable Felix, we acknowledge this with deep gratitude. 4I don’t want to take too much of your time, so I ask that you listen with your usual courtesy to our brief statement of the facts. 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the empire. He’s a ringleader of the Nazarene faction 6and even tried to defile the temple. That’s when we arrested him.#24.6 Critical editions of the Gk New Testament do not include We wanted to put him on trial according to our Law, 7 but Lysias the commander arrived and took him from our hands with great force. 8 Then he ordered his accusers to appear before you. 8By examining him yourself, you will be able to verify the allegations we are bringing against him.” 9The Jews reinforced the action against Paul, affirming the truth of these accusations.
10The governor nodded at Paul, giving him permission to speak.
He responded, “I know that you have been judge over this nation for many years, so I gladly offer my own defense. 11You can verify that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago. 12They didn’t find me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd, whether in the synagogue or anywhere else in the city. 13Nor can they prove to you the allegations they are now bringing against me. 14I do admit this to you, that I am a follower of the Way, which they call a faction. Accordingly, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe everything set out in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15The hope I have in God I also share with my accusers, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16On account of this, I have committed myself to maintaining a clear conscience before God and with all people. 17After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring gifts for the poor of my nation and to offer sacrifices. 18When they found me in the temple, I was ritually pure. There was no crowd and no disturbance. 19But there were some Jews from the province of Asia. They should be here making their accusations, if indeed they have something against me. 20In their absence, have these people who are here declare what crime they found when I stood before the Jerusalem Council. 21Perhaps it concerns this one statement that I blurted out when I was with them: ‘I am on trial before you today because of the resurrection of the dead.’”
22Felix, who had an accurate understanding of the Way, adjourned the meeting. He said, “When Lysias the commander arrives from Jerusalem, I will decide this case.” 23He arranged for a centurion to guard Paul. He was to give Paul some freedom, and his friends were not to be hindered in their efforts to provide for him.
Paul in custody
24After several days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and summoned Paul. He listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25When he spoke about upright behavior, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became fearful and said, “Go away for now! When I have time, I’ll send for you.” 26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him some money, so he often sent for him and talked with him.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
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