1 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. |
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, |
3 "we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. |
4 "Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. |
5 "For 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. |
6 "He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. |
7 "But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, |
8 "commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." |
9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. |
10 Then 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, |
11 "because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. |
12 "And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. |
13 "Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. |
14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. |
15 "I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. |
16 "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. |
17 "Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, |
18 "in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. |
19 "They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. |
20 "Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, |
21 "unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.'" |
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case." |
23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. |
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. |
25 Now 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." |
26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. |
27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. |