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24 And after five days, Ananias, prince of priests, came down with some elder men, and Tertullus, a fair speaker [and Tertullus, some orator, or advocate], which went to the president against Paul.

And when Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, and said, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy wisdom, [And Paul summoned, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, When in much peace we do by thee, and many things be amended by thy providence, or wisdom,]

evermore and every where, thou best Felix, we have received with all doing of thankings.

But lest I tarry thee longer, I pray thee, shortly hear us for thy meekness.

We have found this wicked man stirring dissension to all [the] Jews in all the world, and author of dissension of the sect of Nazarenes;[a]

and he also endeavored to defoul the temple; whom also we took, and would deem, after our law.

But Lysias, the tribune, came above with great strength, and delivered him from our hands;[b]

and commanded his accusers to come to thee [commanding his accusers to come to thee], of whom thou deeming, mayest know of all these things, of which we accuse him.

And Jews put to, and said, that these things had them so. [Forsooth and Jews casted to, saying that these things had them so.]

10 And Paul answered, when the president granted [to] him to say, Of many years I know thee, that thou art doomsman to this folk, and I shall do enough for me with good reason.

11 For thou mayest know, for to me be not more than twelve days [for to me be no more than twelve days], since I came up [for] to worship in Jerusalem;

12 and neither in the temple they found me disputing with any man, neither making concourse of the people, neither in the synagogues, neither in city;

13 neither they be able to prove to thee, of the which things they now accuse me. [neither they may prove to thee, of which things they now accuse me.]

14 But I acknowledge to thee this thing, that after the sect which they say heresy, so I serve to God the Father, believing to all things that be written in the law and prophets;

15 and I have hope in God, which also they themselves abide, the again-rising to coming of just men and wicked.[c]

16 In this thing [and] I study without hurting, to have conscience to God, and to men evermore.

17 But after many years, I came to do almsdeeds to my folk, and offerings, and avows [and offerings, and vows];

18 in which they found me purified in the temple, not with company, neither with noise. And they caught me, and they cried, and said [And they caught me, crying, and saying], Take away our enemy. And some Jews of Asia,

19 which it behooved to be now present at thee [whom it behooved to be now present at thee], and accuse, if they had any thing against me,

20 either these themselves say [or these themselves say], if they found in me any thing of wickedness, since I stand in the council,

21 but only of this [one] voice, by which I cried standing among them, For of the again-rising of dead men I am deemed this day of you [For of the again-rising of dead I am deemed this day of you].

22 Soothly Felix delayed them, and knew most certainly of the way [Soothly Felix deferred them, most certainly he knowing of the way], and said, When Lysias, the tribune, shall come down, I shall hear you.

23 And he commanded to a centurion to keep him, and that he had rest[d], neither to forbid any man to minister of his own things to him.

24 And after some days Felix came, with Drusilla his wife, that was a Jewess, and called Paul, and heard of him the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

25 And while he disputed of rightwiseness, and chastity, and of doom to coming [and of doom to come], Felix was made trembling, and answered, That pertaineth now, go; but in time opportune I shall call thee [soothly in time covenable I shall call thee].

26 Also he hoped, that money should be given to him of Paul; for which thing again he called him [for which thing and oft he called him], and spake with him.

27 And when two years were filled, Felix took a successor, Porcius Festus; and Felix would give grace to the Jews, and left Paul bound.[e]

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:5 We have found this man bearing pestilence and stirring sedition, or dissension, to all the Jews in all the world, and author of sedition of the sect of Nazarenes;
  2. Acts 24:7 Soothly Lysias, the tribune, came with great strength above, and delivered him out of our hands;
  3. Acts 24:15 having hope into God, which and they themselves abide, the again-rising to come of just men and wicked.
  4. Acts 24:23 And he commanded to a centurion to keep him, and to have rest
  5. Acts 24:27 Soothly two years fulfilled, Felix took a successor, Porcius Festus; forsooth Felix willing to give grace to Jews, left Paul bound.

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.