Paul before Felix

1 After afive days the high priest bAnanias came down with some elders, 1with an 2attorney named Tertullus, and they 3brought charges to cthe governor against Paul.

2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor,

“Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation,

3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, amost excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you 1to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

5 “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout 1the world, and a ringleader of the asect of the Nazarenes.

6 “And he even tried to adesecrate the temple; and 1then we arrested him. [2We wanted to judge him according to our own Law.

7 “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands,

8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.”

9 aThe Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 When athe governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than atwelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 “aNeither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or bcausing 1a riot.

13 “aNor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

14 “But this I admit to you, that according to athe Way which they call a bsect I do serve 1cthe God of our fathers, dbelieving everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets;

15 having a hope in God, which athese men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

16 “In view of this, aI also 1do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

17 “Now aafter several years I bcame to bring 1alms to my nation and to present offerings;

18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been apurified, without any bcrowd or uproar. But there were some cJews from 1Asia—

19 who ought to have been present before you and to amake accusation, if they should have anything against me.

20 “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before athe 1Council,

21 other than for this one statement which aI shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ ”

22 But Felix, 1having a more exact knowledge about athe Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the 2commander comes down, I will decide your case.”

23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be akept in custody and yet bhave some freedom, and not to prevent any of chis friends from ministering to him.