Acts 24–25

Paul before Felix at Caesarea

²⁴Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.^{* 2}When Paul^l had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. ³In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude.^{* 4}But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. ⁵We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.^{m* 6}He even tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.^{n* 8}By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.^*

Paul’s Defense before Felix

¹⁰When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

“I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this people.^{* 11}As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{* 12}They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.^{* 13}Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.^{* 14}But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.^{* 15}I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both^o the righteous and the unrighteous.^{* 16}Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.^{* 17}Now after some years I came to bring alms to my people and to offer sacrifices.^{* 18}While I was doing this, they found me in the temple completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.^{* 19}But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.^{* 20}Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, ²¹unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ”^*

²²But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” ²³Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.^*

Paul Held in Custody

²⁴Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.”^{* 26}At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.

²⁷After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.^*

Paul Appeals to the Emperor

²⁵Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ²where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him^{* 3}and requested, as a favor to them against Paul,^p to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.^{* 4}Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly.^{* 5}“So,” he said, “let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.”

⁶After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. ⁷When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.^{* 8}Paul said in his defense, “I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against the emperor.”^{* 9}But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?”^{* 10}Paul said, “I am standing before the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. ¹¹Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death, but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.”^{* 12}Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, “You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

¹³After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. ¹⁴Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, “There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix.^{* 15}When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him.^{* 16}I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.^{* 17}So when they met here, I lost no time but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.^{* 18}When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes^q that I was expecting. ¹⁹Instead, they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died but whom Paul asserted to be alive.^{* 20}Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.^{r* 21}But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor.”^{* 22}Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he said, “you will hear him.”^*

Paul Brought before Agrippa

²³So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in.^{* 24}And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.^{* 25}But I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him.^{* 26}But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write, ²⁷for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”