Acts 23:23–24:27

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmenb to go to Caesareay at nine tonight.z 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”a

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,b Governor Felix:

Greetings.c

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,d but I came with my troops and rescued him,e for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.f 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.g 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,h but there was no charge against himi that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informedj of a plotk to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusersl to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalrym go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.n 33 When the cavalryo arrived in Caesarea,p they delivered the letter to the governorq and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,r 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accuserss get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guardt in Herod’s palace.

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananiasu went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their chargesv against Paul before the governor.w 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellentx Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riotsy among the Jewsz all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarenea sectb 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple;c so we seized him. [7]a 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

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

10 When the governore motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve daysf ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,g or stirring up a crowdh in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.i 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestorsj as a follower of the Way,k which they call a sect.l I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,m 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrectionn of both the righteous and the wicked.o 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clearp before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poorq and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially cleanr when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.s 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,t who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.u 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin—21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”v

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,w adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guardx but to give him some freedomy and permit his friends to take care of his needs.z

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.a 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-controlb and the judgmentc to come, Felix was afraidd and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. 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 frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,e but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,f he left Paul in prison.g