Acts 24

¹ Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.

² When Paul was called in, Tertullus began his accusation: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought reforms to this nation.

³ In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with deep gratitude.

⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

⁵ We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

⁶ and he even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him.

⁸ By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."

⁹ The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

¹⁰ When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, so I gladly make my defense.

¹¹ You can verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone in the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.

¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.

¹⁴ But I admit this to you: I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and written in the Prophets,

¹⁵ and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

¹⁶ So I always strive to keep my conscience clear before God and people.

¹⁷ After several years away, 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 clean in the temple. There was no crowd with me, and no disturbance.

¹⁹ But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.

²⁰ Or these men here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

²¹ unless it was this one statement I shouted as I stood among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"

²² Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "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 taking care of his needs.

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and said, "That is enough for now! You may go. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him often and talked with him.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Wanting to grant a favor to the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.