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
Paul's Defense before Felix
1And after five days Anani´as the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertul´lus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2And when he was called forth, Tertul´lus began to accuse him, saying,
Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lys´i-as came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered,
Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. 17#Acts 21.17-28. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had aught against me. 20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evildoing in me, while I stood before the council, 21#Acts 23.6. except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lys´i-as the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusil´la, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27But after two years Por´ci-us Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to show the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.