Acts of the Apostles 24
24
Paul Appears before Felix
1Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer#24:1 Greek some elders and an orator. Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:
“You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.#24:6 Some manuscripts add an expanded conclusion to verse 6, all of verse 7, and an additional phrase in verse 8: We would have judged him by our law, 7but Lysias, the commander of the garrison, came and violently took him away from us, 8commanding his accusers to come before you. 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.
10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
14“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council#24:20 Greek Sanhedrin. found me guilty of, 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”
22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23He ordered an officer#24:23 Greek a centurion. to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
27After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.
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Acts of the Apostles 24: NLT
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Acts 24
24
Accused of Sedition
1Now after #Acts 21:27five days #Acts 23:2, 30, 35; 25:2Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
2And 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 foresight, 3we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 5#Luke 23:2; Acts 6:13; 16:20; 17:6; 21:28; 1 Pet. 2:12, 15For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6#Acts 21:28He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted #John 18:31to judge him according to our law. 7#Acts 21:33; 23:10But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8#Acts 23:30commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
The Defense Before Felix
10Then 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 answer for myself, 11because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem #Acts 21:15, 18, 26, 27; 24:17to worship. 12#Acts 25:8; 28:17And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14But this I confess to you, that according to #Amos 8:14; Acts 9:2; 24:22the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the #2 Tim. 1:3God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in #Acts 26:22; 28:23the Law and in the Prophets. 15#Acts 23:6; 26:6, 7; 28:20I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, #(Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29; 11:24)that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16#Acts 23:1This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
17“Now after many years #Acts 11:29, 30; Rom. 15:25–28; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Cor. 8:1–4; 9:1, 2, 12; Gal. 2:10I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18#Acts 21:27; 26:21in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me #Acts 21:26purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19#(Acts 23:30; 25:16)They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, #(Acts 23:6; 24:15; 28:20)‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
Felix Procrastinates
22But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the #Acts 9:2; 18:26; 19:9, 23; 22:4Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When #Acts 23:26; 24:7Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and #Acts 23:16; 27:3; 28:16told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
24And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the #(John 3:15; 5:24; 11:25; 12:46; 20:31; Rom. 10:9)faith in Christ. 25Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26Meanwhile he also hoped that #Ex. 23:8money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
27But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, #Ex. 23:2; Acts 12:3; 23:35; 25:9, 14wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
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