| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7 |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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