Acts 24

After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an advocate named Tertullus. They presented charges against Paul to the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Since we enjoy great peace through you, and reforms are being made for this nation through your foresight, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere with all gratitude, most excellent Felix. But so that I may not detain you further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man to be a plague, stirring up rebellions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him. [But Lysias the commander came and with great violence took him out of our hands.] By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.” The Jews also joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were so. When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. You can verify that no more than twelve days have passed since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple, in the synagogues, or throughout the city. Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you: according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also hold, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. So I myself strive always to maintain a blameless conscience before God and people. After several years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without a crowd or a disturbance. But some Jews from Asia ought to have been here before you to accuse me, if they had anything against me. Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, except for this one statement I cried out while standing among them: ‘I am on trial before you today for the resurrection of the dead.’” But Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the case, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” He ordered the centurion to keep him in custody but allow him some freedom and not prevent any of his own people from attending to him. After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and answered, “Go away for now. When I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money, so he sent for him more often and conversed with him. When two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. Wanting to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.

Rights and attribution