24 2 Tertullus accuseth Paul: 10 He answereth for himself: 21 He preacheth Christ to the governor and his wife. 26 Felix hopeth, but in vain, to receive a bribe, 27 who going from his office, leaveth Paul in prison.

Now [a]after five days, Ananias the high Priest came down with the Elders, and with Tertullus a certain orator, which appeared before the governor against Paul.

And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that we have obtained great quietness [b]through thee, and that many [c]worthy things are done unto this nation through thy providence,

We acknowledge it wholly, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thanks.

But that I be not tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest hear us of thy courtesy a few words.

Certainly we have found this man a [d]pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a [e]chief maintainer of the sect of the [f]Nazarenes:

And hath gone about to pollute the Temple: therefore we took him, and would have judged him according to our Law:

But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him out of our hands,

Commanding his accusers to come to thee: of whom thou mayest (if thou wilt inquire) know all these things whereof we accuse him.

And the Jews likewise [g]affirmed, saying that it was so.

10 [h]Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him that he should speak, answered, I do the more gladly answer for myself, forasmuch as I know that [i]thou hast been oft many years a judge unto this nation,

11 Seeing that thou mayest know, that there are but twelve days since I came up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 And they neither found me in the Temple, disputing with any man, neither making uproar among the people, neither in the Synagogues, nor in the city.

13 Neither can they [j]prove the things, whereof they now accuse me.

14 [k]But this I confess unto thee, that after the way (which they call [l]heresy) so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets,

15 And have hope towards God, that the resurrection of the dead, which they themselves look for also, shall be both of just and unjust.

16 And herein I endeavor myself to have always a clear conscience toward God and toward men.

17 [m]Now after many years, I came and brought alms to my nation and offerings,

18 At [n]what time, certain Jews of [o]Asia found me purified in the Temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

19 Who ought to have been present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me.

20 Or let these themselves say, if they have found any unjust thing in me, while I stood in the [p]Council,

21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Of the resurrection of the dead am I accused of you this day.

22 [q]Now when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, and said, When I shall more [r]perfectly know the things which concern this way, by the coming of Lysias the chief Captain, I will decide your matter.

23 [s]Then he commanded a Centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have ease, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister unto him, or to come unto him.

24 ¶ And after certain days, came Felix with his wife [t]Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and he called forth Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ.

25 And as he disputed of righteousness and temperance, and of the judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, and when I have convenient time, I will call for thee.

26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

27 [u]When two years were expired, Porcius Festus came into Felix’s room, and Felix willing to [v]get favor of the Jews, left Paul bound.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:1 Hypocrites, when they cannot do what they would do by force and deceit, at length they go about to compass it by a show of Law.
  2. Acts 24:2 Felix ruled that province with great cruelty and covetousness, and yet Josephus recordeth that he did many worthy things, as that he took Eleazar the captain of certain cutthroats, and put that deceiving wretch the Egyptian to flight, which caused great troubles in Judea.
  3. Acts 24:2 He useth a word which the Stoics defined to be a perfect duty and behavior.
  4. Acts 24:5 Word for word, a plague.
  5. Acts 24:5 As you would say, a ringleader, or ensign bearer.
  6. Acts 24:5 So they called the Christians scoffingly of the town’s name where they thought that Christ was born, whereupon it came that Julian the Apostate called him Galilean.
  7. Acts 24:9 Confirmed Tertullus’s saying.
  8. Acts 24:10 Tertullus by the devil’s rhetoric beginneth with flattery, maketh an end with lies: but Paul using heavenly eloquence, and but a simple beginning casteth off from himself the crime of sedition, wherewith he was burdened, with a simple denial.
  9. Acts 24:10 Paul pleaded his cause two years before Felix departed out of the province, Acts 27, but he had governed Trachonite, and Batanea, and Galavnite, before that Claudius made him governor of Judea: Josephus in the History of the Jewish War, lib. 2, chap. 11.
  10. Acts 24:13 They cannot lay forth before thee and prove by good reasons.
  11. Acts 24:14 Paul goeth in the cause of Religion from a state conjectural to a state of quality not only not denying that objected against him, but also proving it to be true, to be heavenly and from God, and to be the oldest of all religions.
  12. Acts 24:14 Here this word, Heresy, or sect, is taken in good part.
  13. Acts 24:17 Paul in conclusion telleth the thing which was done, truly, which Tertullus had before divers ways corrupted.
  14. Acts 24:18 And while I was busy about those things.
  15. Acts 24:18 Hereby it appeareth that these of Asia were Saul’s enemies, and those that stirred up the people against him.
  16. Acts 24:20 Whither the Tribune brought me.
  17. Acts 24:22 The Judge suspendeth his sentence, because the matter is doubtful.
  18. Acts 24:22 Felix could not judge whether he had done wickedly in the matters of his religion or no, until he had better understanding of that way which Paul professed: and as for other matters touching the sedition, he thinketh good to defer it till he hears Lysias, and therefore he gave Paul somewhat more liberty.
  19. Acts 24:23 God is a most faithful keeper of his servants, and the force of the truth is wonderful, even amongst men which are otherwise profane.
  20. Acts 24:24 This Drusilla was Agrippa’s sister, of whom Luke speaketh afterward, a very harlot and licentious woman, and being the wife of Azizus king of the Emesens, who was circumcised, departed from him, and went to Felix, the brother of one Pallas, who was sometime Nero’s bondman.
  21. Acts 24:27 In a naughty mind that is guilty to itself, although, sometimes there be some show of equity, yet by and by, it will be extinguished: but in the mean season we have need to patience, and that continual.
  22. Acts 24:27 For whereas he had behaved himself very wickedly in the province, had it not been for favor of his brother Pallas, he should have died for it: so that we may gather hereby why he would have pleasured the Jews.

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(B) against Paul before the governor.(C) When 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. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent(D) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots(E) among the Jews(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene(G) sect(H) and even tried to desecrate the temple;(I) so we seized him. [7] [a] By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

The other Jews joined in the accusation,(J) asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor(K) 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. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(L) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(M) or stirring up a crowd(N) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(O) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(P) as a follower of the Way,(Q) which they call a sect.(R) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(S) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(T) of both the righteous and the wicked.(U) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(V) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(W) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(X) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(Y) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(Z) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(AA) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless 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.’”(AB)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,(AC) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard(AD) but to give him some freedom(AE) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.(AF)

24 Several 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.(AG) 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control(AH) and the judgment(AI) to come, Felix was afraid(AJ) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,(AK) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,(AL) he left Paul in prison.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, ordering his accusers to come before you.