Acts 24:10–13

Paul’s Defense Before Felix

24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know34 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.35 24:11 As you can verify36 for yourself, not more than twelve days ago37 I went up to Jerusalem38 to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing39 with anyone or stirring up a crowd40 in the temple courts41 or in the synagogues42 or throughout the city,43 24:13 nor can they prove44 to you the things45 they are accusing me of doing.46

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34	tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
35	sn “Because … defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.
36	tn BDAG 369 s.v. ἐπιγινώσκω 2.c has “notice, perceive, learn of, ascertain … Also as legal t.t. ascertain (2 Macc 14:9) τὶ Ac 23:28; cp. 24:8. W. ὅτι foll. Ac 24:11.” “Verify” is an English synonym for “ascertain.”
37	tn Grk “it is not more than twelve days from when.” This has been simplified to “not more than twelve days ago.” sn Part of Paul’s defense is that he would not have had time to organize a revolt, since he had arrived in Jerusalem not more than twelve days ago.
38	map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
39	tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.”
40	tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “ἐ. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested.
41	tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.
42	sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
43	sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city.
44	tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.f has “οὐδὲ παραστῆσαι δύνανταί σοι περὶ ὦν νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me Ac 24:13.” sn Nor can they prove. This is a formal legal claim that Paul’s opponents lacked proof of any wrongdoing. They had no witness who could justify the arrest at the temple.
45	tn The words “the things” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
46	tn Grk “nor can they prove to you [the things] about which they are now accusing me.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“which”) in the translation.

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