Acts 24:10–27

¹⁰And when^* the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I^* know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully with respect to the things concerning myself. ¹¹You can ascertain that it has not been more than^f twelve days since^g I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹²And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts^* nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city. ¹³Nor can they prove the things^* to you concerning which they are now accusing me. ¹⁴But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets, ¹⁵having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ¹⁶For this reason^h also I myself alwaysⁱ do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people. ¹⁷So after many years, I came to practice charitable giving and offerings to my people,^{j 18}in which they found me purified in the temple courts,^* not with a crowd or with a disturbance. ¹⁹But there are some Jews from Asia^k who ought to be present before you and bring charges against me,^* if they have anything against me, ²⁰or these men themselves should say what crime they found when^* I stood before the Sanhedrin,^{l 21}other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted while^* standing there before them: ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!’ ”

Paul Held Awaiting Trial

²²But Felix, because he^* understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the military tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”^{m 23}He ordered^* the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own peopleⁿ from serving him.

²⁴And after some days, when^* Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵And while^* he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and^* replied, “Go away for the present, and when I^* have an opportunity, I will summon you.” ²⁶At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and^* talked with him. ²⁷And when^* two years had passed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus. And because he^* wanted to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul behind as a prisoner.^o