| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Now 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. | 1Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. |
| 2And 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, | 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. |
| 3we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. | 3Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. |
| 4Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. | 4But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. |
| 5For 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. | 5"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect |
| 6He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. | 6and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. |
| 7But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, | 7 |
| 8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” | 8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him." |
| 9And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. | 9The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. |
| 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, | 10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. |
| 11because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. | 11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. |
| 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. | 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. |
| 13Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. | 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. |
| 14But 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. | 14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, |
| 15I 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. | 15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. |
| 16This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. | 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. |
| 17“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, | 17"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. |
| 18in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. | 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. |
| 19They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. | 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. |
| 20Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, | 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin-- |
| 21unless 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.’ ” | 21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'" |
| 22But 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.” | 22Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." |
| 23So 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. | 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. |
| 24And 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. | 24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 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.” | 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." |
| 26Meanwhile 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. | 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. |
| 27But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. | 27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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