The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 24 -

And after five days the chief priest Ananias came down, with the elders, and a certain orator—Tertullus, and they disclosed to the governor [the things] against Paul;

and he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse [him], saying, “Enjoying much peace through you, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through your forethought,

always, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

and that I may not be further tedious to you, I exhort you to hear us concisely in your gentleness;

for having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world—also a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes—

who also tried to profane the temple, whom we also took, [[ and wished to judge according to our law,

and Lysias the chief captain having come near, took away out of our hands with much violence,

having commanded his accusers to come to you,]] from whom you may be able, yourself having examined, to know concerning all these things of which we accuse him”;

and the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.

Paul’s Defense to Felix

And Paul—the governor having beckoned to him to speak—answered, “Knowing [that] for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I answer more cheerfully the things concerning myself;

you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

and neither did they find me reasoning with anyone in the temple, or making a dissension of the multitude, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.

And I confess this to you, that, according to The Way that they call a sect, so I serve the God of the fathers, believing all things that have been written in the Law and the Prophets,

having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for, [that] there is about to be a resurrection of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;

and in this I exercise myself, to always have a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,

whom it is necessary to be present before you, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,

or let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the Sanhedrin,

except concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them—Concerning a resurrection of the dead I am judged by you today.”

The Verdict Postponed

And having heard these things, Felix delayed them—having known more exactly of the things concerning The Way—saying, “When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you”;

having also given a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let [him] also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near to him.

And after certain days, Felix having come with his wife Drusilla, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning faith toward Christ,

and he reasoning concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, “For the present be going, and having time, I will call for you”;

and at the same time also hoping that money will be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him often, he was conversing with him;

and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favor on the Jews, left Paul bound.

After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.

When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight,

we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.(a)

(b)

(c)

By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

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

Paul’s Defense to Felix

When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,

seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.

In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;

having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.

Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;

amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.

They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me.

Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,

unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”

The Verdict Postponed

But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”

He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”

Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him.

But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

Footnotes

(a)24:6 TR adds “We wanted to judge him according to our law,”

(b)24:7 TR adds “but the commanding officer, Lysias, came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,”