| New Living Translation | English Standard Version |
| 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. | 1And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. |
| 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. | 2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, |
| 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. | 3in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. |
| 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. | 4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. |
| 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. | 5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. |
| 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. | 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. |
| 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” | 8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” |
| 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. | 9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. |
| 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. | 10And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. |
| 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. | 11You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, |
| 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. | 12and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. |
| 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. | 13Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. |
| 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. | 14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, |
| 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. | 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. |
| 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. | 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. |
| 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. | 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. |
| 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. | 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— |
| 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! | 19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. |
| 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, | 20Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, |
| 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” | 21other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” |
| 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.” | 22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” |
| 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. | 23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. |
| 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. | 24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 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.” | 25And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” |
| 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. | 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. |
| 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. | 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. |
| 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. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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