Acts 24:1-25 ▼

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus, who made a presentation against Paul to the governor.

2 And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Attaining great peace through you, and excellent measures being done to this nation through your foresight,

3 in every way and also everywhere, we gladly accept it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But so that I should not be a hindrance to you any longer, I implore you to hear us briefly in your kindness.

5 For having found this man a pestilence and stirring dissension among all the Jews in the world—also a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes—

6 who even attempted to profane the temple, whom we also seized.

7

8 Having examined him yourself, you will be able to know from him concerning all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 And the Jews also agreed, declaring these things to be so.

10 And the governor having motioned to him to speak, Paul answered: “Knowing you as being a judge to this nation for many years, I make a defense cheerfully to the things concerning myself,

11 you being able to know that there are to me no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 And neither did they find me reasoning with anyone or making a tumultuous gathering of a crowd in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.

13 Nor are they able to prove to you the things concerning which now they accuse me.

14 But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things throughout the Law and that have been written in the Prophets,

15 having a hope in God, which they themselves also await, that there is about to be a resurrection both of righteous and of unrighteous.

16 In this I myself also strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men through everything.

17 Now after many years, I arrived to bring alms to my nation, and offerings,

18 during which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with an uproar. But there are some Jews from Asia

19 who ought to appear before you and to make accusation if they may have anything against me.

20 Or let these say themselves any unrighteousness they found in my having stood before the Council,

21 other than concerning this one voice in which I cried out standing among them: ‘I am judged by you? this day concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

22 But Felix, having known more precisely the things concerning the Way, put them off, having said, “When Lysias the commander shall have come down, I will examine the things as to you?,”

23 having commanded the centurion to keep him and to let him have ease and not to forbid his own to minister to him.

24 Then after some days Felix, having arrived with his own wife Drusilla, being a Jewess, sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And in his reasoning concerning righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix, having become frightened, answered, “Be going for the present, and having found opportunity, I will call for you,”