Acts 24
24
The Accusation against Paul
1After five days Ananias # Ac 23:2 the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer # In Gk, the word rhetor is similar to the Eng “rhetoric.” In this situation, a rhetorician who was skilled in public speaking in the Gk language was needed. named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. # Ac 21:27; 23:2,24,30 2When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: “Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent # Lk 1:3; Ac 23:26; 26:25 Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. 5For we have found this man to be a plague, # Ac 16:20; 17:6 an agitator # Ac 21:28; 26:5; 28:22 among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! # Mt 2:23; 26:71; Mk 1:24; 10:47; 16:6; Lk 18:37; 24:19; Jn 19:19; Ac 2:22; 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 22:8 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, 8commanding his accusers to come to you. # Other mss omit bracketed text By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.” 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.
Paul’s Defense before Felix
10When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. # Ac 23:24; 1Th 2:16 11You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. # Ac 21:27; 24:1 12They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. # Ac 25:8; 28:17 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. 14But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way, # Ac 9:2; 22:4; 24:22 which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. # Ac 3:13; 26:22; 28:23 15And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, # Other mss add of the dead # Ac 23:6; 28:20 both of the righteous and the unrighteous. # Dn 12:2; Jn 5:28-29 16I always do my best to have a clear conscience # Ac 23:1; 1Co 4:4; 1Tm 3:9; 2Tm 1:5; Heb 13:18; 1Pt 3:16 toward God and men. 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, # Ac 11:29; Rm 15:25-28; 1Co 16:1-3; 2Co 8:1-4; Gl 2:10 18and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. # Ac 21:26-27; 26:21 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”
The Verdict Postponed
22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, # Ac 9:2; 22:4; 24:14 he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23He ordered that the centurion keep Paul # Lit him under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving # Other mss add or visiting him. # Ac 23:35; 27:3; 28:16
24After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, # Gl 5:23; Ti 2:12; 2Pt 1:6 Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.” 26At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. # Other mss add so that he might release him For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
27After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, # Ac 25:1,4,9; 26:24 and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, # Ac 12:3; 25:9 Felix left Paul in prison. # Ac 23:35; 25:14
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Acts 24: HCSB
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Acts 24
24
1 Then, after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a certain Tertullus, a speaker. And they went to the governor against Paul.
2 And having summoned Paul, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Most excellent Felix, since we have much peace through you, and many things may be corrected by your providence,
3 we acknowledge this, always and everywhere, with acts of thanksgiving for everything.
4 But lest I speak at too great a length, I beg you, by your clemency, to listen to us briefly.
5 We have found this man to be pestilent, to be inciting seditions among all the Jews in the entire world, and to be the author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 And he has even been attempting to violate the temple. And having apprehended him, we wanted him to be judged according to our law.
7 But Lysias, the tribune, overwhelming us with great violence, snatched him away from our hands,
8 ordering his accusers to come to you. From them, you yourself will be able, by judging about all these things, to understand the reason that we accuse him."
9 And then the Jews interjected, saying that these things were so.
10 Then, since the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that you have been the judge over this nation for many years, I will give an explanation of myself with an honest soul.
11 For, as you may realize, it has only been twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 And they did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone, nor causing a rally of the people: neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.
13 And they are not able to prove to you the things about which they now accuse me.
14 But I confess this to you, that according to that sect, which they call a heresy, so do I serve my God and Father, believing all that is written in the Law and the Prophets,
15 having a hope in God, which these others themselves also expect, that there will be a future resurrection of the just and the unjust.
16 And in this, I myself always strive to have a conscience that is lacking in any offence toward God and toward men.
17 Then, after many years, I went to my nation, bringing alms and offerings and vows,
18 through which I obtained purification in the temple: neither with a crowd, nor with a commotion.
19 But certain Jews out of Asia are the ones who should have appeared before you to accuse me, if they have anything against me.
20 Or let these ones here say if they have found in me any iniquity, while standing before the council.
21 For while standing among them, I spoke out solely about this one matter: about the resurrection of the dead. It is about this that I am being judged today by you."
22 Then Felix, after having ascertained much knowledge about this Way, kept them waiting, by saying, "When Lysias the tribune has arrived, I will give you a hearing."
23 And he ordered a centurion to guard him, and to take rest, and not to prohibit any of his own from ministering to him.
24 Then, after some days, Felix, arriving with his wife Drusilla who was a Jew, called for Paul and listened to him about the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
25 And after he discoursed about justice and chastity, and about the future judgment, Felix was trembling, and he responded: "For now, go, but remain under guard. Then, at an opportune time, I will summon you."
26 He was also hoping that money might be given to him by Paul, and because of this, he frequently summoned him and spoke with him.
27 Then, when two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. And since Felix wanted to show particular favor to the Jews, he left Paul behind as a prisoner.
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