Acts 24:1–27

Accused of Sedition

24Now after ^afive days ^bAnanias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

²And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and ¹prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, ³we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your ²courtesy, a few words from us. ^5cFor we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6dHe even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, ³and wanted ^eto judge him according to our law. ^7fBut the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, ^8gcommanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” ⁹And the Jews also ⁴assented, maintaining that these things were so.

The Defense Before Felix

¹⁰Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, ¹¹because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem ^hto worship. ¹²ⁱAnd they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. ¹³Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴But this I confess to you, that according to ^jthe Way which they call a sect, so I worship the ^kGod of my fathers, believing all things which are written in ^lthe Law and in the Prophets. ^15mI have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, ⁿthat there will be a resurrection ⁵of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. ^16oThis being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

¹⁷“Now after many years ^pI came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, ^18qin the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me ^rpurified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. ^19sThey ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. ²⁰Or else let those who are here themselves say ⁶if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, ²¹unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ^t‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

Felix Procrastinates

²²But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the ^uWay, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When ^vLysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” ²³So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and ^wtold him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

²⁴And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the ^xfaith in Christ. ²⁵Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” ²⁶Meanwhile he also hoped that ^ymoney would be given him by Paul, ⁷that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

²⁷But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, ^zwanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.