Acts 24:10–27

¹⁰When the governor^e 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. ¹¹You can easily verify that no more than twelve days^f ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹²My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,^g or stirring up a crowd^h in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³And 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 ancestors^j 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 clear^p before God and man.

¹⁷“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor^q and to present offerings. ¹⁸I was ceremonially clean^r 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—²¹unless 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

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

²⁴Several 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-control^b and the judgment^c to come, Felix was afraid^d and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

²⁷When 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