| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. | 1Five days later, the high priest Ananias arrived with certain elders and Tertullus, an attorney, and they summarized their case against Paul before the governor. |
| 2When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, | 2When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus opened the prosecution by saying: "Your Excellency Felix, since we are enjoying lasting peace because of you, and since reforms for this nation are being brought about through your foresight, |
| 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. | 3we always and everywhere acknowledge it with profound gratitude. |
| 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. | 4But so as not to detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. |
| 5For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! | 5For we have found this man a perfect pest and an agitator among all Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader in the sect of the Nazarenes |
| 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. | 6and even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him. |
| 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, | 7 |
| 8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of." | 8By examining him for yourself, you will be able to find out from him everything of which we accuse him." |
| 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so. | 9The Jewish leaders supported his accusations by asserting that these things were true. |
| 10When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. | 10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he replied: "Since I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I am pleased to present my defense. |
| 11You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. | 11You can verify for yourself that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago. |
| 12They didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. | 12They never found me debating with anyone in the Temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or throughout the city, |
| 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. | 13and they cannot prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. |
| 14But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. | 14However, I admit to you that in accordance with the Way, which they call a heresy, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe in everything written in the Law and the Prophets. |
| 15And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. | 15I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish—that there is to be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. |
| 16I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men. | 16Therefore, I always do my best to have a clear conscience before God and people. |
| 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, | 17After many years, I have come back to my people to bring gifts for the poor and to offer sacrifices. |
| 18and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. | 18They found me in the Temple doing these things just as I had completed the purification ceremony. No crowd or noisy mob was present. |
| 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. | 19But some Jews from Asia were there, and they should be here before you to accuse me if they have anything against me. |
| 20Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, | 20Otherwise, these men themselves should tell what wrong they found when I stood before the Council — |
| 21or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, 'Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.'" | 21unless it is for the one thing I shouted as I stood among them: 'It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'" |
| 22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." | 22Felix was rather well informed about the Way, and so he adjourned the trial with the comment, "When Tribune Lysias arrives, I'll decide your case." |
| 23He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him. | 23He ordered the centurion to guard Paul but to let him have some freedom and not to keep any of his friends from caring for his needs. |
| 24After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. | 24Some days later, Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Jesus the Messiah. |
| 25Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you." | 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, "For the present you may go. When I get a chance, I will send for you again." |
| 26At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. | 26At the same time he was hoping to receive a bribe from Paul, and so he would send for him frequently to talk with him. |
| 27After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison. | 27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison. |
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