Acts 24

24 ¹ Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since reforms have come to this nation through your foresight, ³ we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude. ⁴ But so as not to detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your kindness. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a plague, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him. ^{7 a} a v7 This verse is not in the earliest manuscripts; later copies add: “But the commander Lysias came and with great force took him out of our hands,” ⁸ By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him about everything we are accusing him of."

⁹ The Jews also joined in the attack, insisting that these things were so.

¹⁰ When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "Since you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. ¹¹ You can verify that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² And they did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. ¹⁴ But I confess this to you, that following the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the Father of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and written in the Prophets, ¹⁵ having a hope in our Father, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ¹⁶ So I always strive to keep my conscience clear before our Father and before people. ¹⁷ Now after several years I came to bring gifts for the poor of my nation and to present offerings. ¹⁸ While I was doing this, they found me ceremonially purified in the temple, without any crowd or disturbance. ¹⁹ But there were some Jews from Asia who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, ²¹ other than this one thing I shouted while standing among them: 'I am on trial before you today because of the resurrection of the dead.'"

²² Then Felix, who was quite well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." ²³ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from attending to his needs.

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "That is enough for now. When I find the time, I will send for you." ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would give him money, so he sent for him often and talked with him.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wanting to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.