1 After AActs 24:11five days the high priest BActs 23:2Ananias came down with some elders, 1Lit andwith an 2Lit oratorattorney named Tertullus, and they 3Or presented their evidence or casebrought charges to CActs 23:24the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor,

“

Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, AActs 23:26; 26:25most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4  “But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you 1Lit to hear...brieflyto grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5  “For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout 1Lit the inhabited earththe world, and a ringleader of the AActs 15:5; 24:14sect of the Nazarenes. 6  “And he even tried to AActs 21:28desecrate the temple; and 1Lit alsothen we arrested him. [2The early mss do not contain the remainder of v 6, v 7, nor the first part of v 8We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7  “But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 A1 Thess 2:16The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 When AActs 23:24the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:

“

Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than AActs 21:18, 27; 24:1twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12  “AActs 25:8Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or BActs 24:18causing 1Lit an attack of a moba riot. 13  “AActs 25:7Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14  “But this I admit to you, that according to AActs 9:2; 24:22the Way which they call a BActs 15:5; 24:5sect I do serve 1Lit the ancestral GodCActs 3:13the God of our fathers, DActs 25:8; 26:4ff, 22f; 28:23believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which ADan 12:2; John 5:28f; 11:24; Acts 23:6these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16  “In view of this, AActs 23:1I also 1Lit practice myselfdo my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17  “Now AActs 20:31after several years I BActs 11:29f; Rom 15:25-28; 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8:1-4; 9:1, 2, 12; Gal 2:10came to bring 1Or gifts to charityalms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been AActs 21:26purified, without any BActs 24:12crowd or uproar. But there were some CActs 21:27Jews from 1I.e. west coast province of Asia MinorAsia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to AActs 23:30make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20  “Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before AMatt 5:22the 1Or SanhedrinCouncil, 21 other than for this one statement which AActs 23:6; 24:15I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ ”

22 But Felix, 1Lit knowing more accuratelyhaving a more exact knowledge about AActs 24:14the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the 2I.e. chiliarch, in command of one thousand troopscommander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be AActs 23:35kept in custody and yet BActs 28:16have some freedom, and not to prevent any of CActs 23:16; 27:3his friends from ministering to him.

24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his 1Lit own wifewife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about AActs 20:21faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing ATitus 2:12righteousness, BGal 5:23; Titus 1:8; 2 Pet 1:6self-control and CActs 10:42the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that AActs 24:17money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix 1Lit received a successor, Porcius Festuswas succeeded by Porcius AActs 25:1, 4, 9, 12; 26:24f, 32Festus, and BActs 12:3; 25:9wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul CActs 23:35; 25:14imprisoned.