1FIVE days later the high priest Ananias came down, accompanied by some of the elders and an advocate named Tertullus, to lay before the governor their charge against Paul.
2When the prisoner was called, Tertullus opened the case. “Your excellency,” he said to Felix, “we owe it to you that we enjoy unbroken peace, and it is due to your provident care that, in all kinds of ways and in all sorts of places, improvements are being made for the good of this nation. We appreciate this, and are most grateful to you.
3(24:2)
4And now, not to take up too much of your time, I crave your indulgence for a brief statement of our case.
5We have found this man to be a pest, a fomenter of discord among the Jews all over the world, a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6He made an attempt to profane the temple and we arrested him.
7[[EMPTY]]
8If you examine him yourself you can ascertain the truth of all the charges we bring against him.”
9The Jews supported the charge, alleging that the facts were as he stated.
10The governor then motioned to Paul to speak, and he replied as follows: “Knowing as I do that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I make my defence with confidence.
11As you can ascertain for yourself, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage.
12They did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone or collecting a crowd, or in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city;
13and they cannot make good the charges they now bring against me.
14But this much I will admit: I am a follower of the new way (the ‘sect’ they speak of), and it is in that manner that I worship the God of our fathers; for I believe all that is written in the law and the prophets,
15and in reliance on God I hold the hope, which my accusers too accept, that there is to be a resurrection of good and wicked alike.
16Accordingly I, no less than they, train myself to keep at all times a clear conscience before God and man.
17“After an absence of several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to offer sacrifices.
18I was ritually purified and engaged in this service when they found me in the temple; I had no crowd with me, and there was no disturbance. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there,
19and if they had any charge against me, it is they who ought to have been in court to state it.
20Failing that, it is for these persons here present to say what crime they discovered when I was brought before the Council,
21apart from this one declaration which I made as I stood there: ‘The issue in my trial before you today is the resurrection of the dead.’”
22Then Felix, who was well informed about the new way, adjourned the hearing. “I will decide your case when Lysias the commanding officer comes down,” he said.
23He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul under open arrest and not to prevent any of his friends from making themselves useful to him.
24Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul. He let him talk to him about faith in Christ Jesus,
25but when the discourse turned to questions of morals, self-control, and the coming judgement, Felix became alarmed and exclaimed, “Enough for now! When I find it convenient I will send for you again.”
26He also had hopes of a bribe from Paul, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Wishing to curry favour with the Jews, Felix left Paul in custody.
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