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 24
24
1And after five days came down the chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator — Tertullus, and they made manifest to the governor [the things] against Paul;
2and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, ‘Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through thy forethought,
3always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;
4and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;
5for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world — a ringleader also of the sect of the Nazarenes —
6who also the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,
7and Lysias the chief captain having come near, with much violence, out of our hands did take away,
8having commanded his accusers to come to thee, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him;’
9and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.
10And Paul answered — the governor having beckoned to him to speak — ‘Knowing [that] for many years thou hast been a judge to this nation, the more cheerfully the things concerning myself I do answer;
11thou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
12and neither in the temple did they find me reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
13nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.
14‘And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,
15having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;
16and in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.
17‘And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,
18in which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,
19whom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,
20or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,
21except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them — Concerning a rising again of the dead I am judged to-day by you.’
22And having heard these things, Felix delayed them — having known more exactly of the things concerning the way — saying, ‘When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you;’
23having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.
24And after certain days, Felix having come with Drusilla his wife, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith toward Christ,
25and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, ‘For the present be going, and having got time, I will call for thee;’
26and at the same time also hoping that money shall be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him the oftener, he was conversing with him;
27and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favour on the Jews, left Paul bound.
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