使徒行傳 24
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
保羅在腓利斯面前受審
24 五天後，大祭司亞拿尼亞帶著幾個長老和一位叫帖土羅的律師下到凱撒利亞，向總督控告保羅。 2 保羅被傳來後，帖土羅指控他說：「腓利斯大人深謀遠慮，在大人的領導下，國中有許多改革，我們常享太平。 3 我們對大人的恩德感激不盡。 4 我不敢耽誤大人太久，只求大人容我們簡單敘述。 5 我們發現這個人惹事生非，到處煽動猶太人鬧事。他是拿撒勒教派的一個頭目， 6 企圖玷污聖殿，被我們抓住了。我們想按照猶太律法處置他， 7 不料呂西亞千夫長卻硬把他從我們手中搶走， 8 並命令告他的人到大人這裡來。[a]大人親自審問他，就會知道我們告他的事了。」 9 在場的猶太人也隨聲附和，表示這些事屬實。
保羅的申辯
10 總督點頭示意保羅可以發言，於是保羅說：「我知道大人在猶太執法多年，我很樂意在你面前為自己辯護。 11 大人明鑒，從我上耶路撒冷禮拜至今不過十二天。 12 這些人根本沒有見過我在聖殿、會堂或城裡與人爭辯，聚眾鬧事。 13 他們對我的指控毫無根據。 14 但有一點我必須承認，就是我依循他們稱之為異端的道事奉我們祖先的上帝，我也相信律法書和先知書的一切記載， 15 並且我與他們在上帝面前有同樣的盼望，就是義人和不義的人都要復活。 16 因此，我一直盡力在上帝和人面前都做到問心無愧。
17 「我離開耶路撒冷已有多年，這次回來是帶著捐款要賙濟同胞，並獻上祭物。 18 他們看見我的時候，我已行過潔淨禮，正在聖殿裡獻祭，沒有聚眾，也沒有作亂。 19 當時只有幾個從亞細亞來的猶太人在那裡，如果他們有事要告我，應該到你這裡告我； 20 不然，請這些出庭的人指出他們在公會審問我時發現了什麼罪。 21 如果有，也無非是當時我站在他們當中喊了一句，『我今天在你們面前受審與死人復活有關。』」
22 腓利斯原本對這道頗有認識，於是下令休庭，說：「等呂西亞千夫長抵達後，我再斷你們的案子。」 23 他派百夫長看守保羅，給他一定的自由，也允許親友來供應他的需要。
24 幾天後，腓利斯和他的妻子猶太人土西拉一同來了，召見保羅，聽他講信基督耶穌的事。 25 當保羅講到公義、節制和將來的審判時，腓利斯十分恐懼，說：「你先下去吧，改天有機會，我再叫你來。」 26 腓利斯希望保羅賄賂他，所以經常召他來談話。 27 過了兩年，波求·非斯都接任總督，腓利斯為了討好猶太人，仍然把保羅留在監裡。
Footnotes
- 24·8 有古卷無「我們想按照猶太律法處置他，不料呂西亞千夫長卻硬把他從我們手中搶走，並命令告他的人到大人這裡來。」
Acts 24
The Message
Paul States His Defense
24 1-4 Within five days, the Chief Priest Ananias arrived with a contingent of leaders, along with Tertullus, a trial lawyer. They presented the governor with their case against Paul. When Paul was called before the court, Tertullus spoke for the prosecution: “Most Honorable Felix, we are most grateful in all times and places for your wise and gentle rule. We are much aware that it is because of you and you alone that we enjoy all this peace and gain daily profit from your reforms. I’m not going to tire you out with a long speech. I beg your kind indulgence in listening to me. I’ll be quite brief.
5-8 “We’ve found this man time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world, the ringleader of a seditious sect called Nazarenes. He’s a real bad apple, I must say. We caught him trying to defile our holy Temple and arrested him. You’ll be able to verify all these accusations when you examine him yourself.”
9 The Jews joined in: “Hear, hear! That’s right!”
10-13 The governor motioned to Paul that it was now his turn. Paul said, “I count myself fortunate to be defending myself before you, Governor, knowing how fair-minded you’ve been in judging us all these years. I’ve been back in the country only twelve days—you can check out these dates easily enough. I came with the express purpose of worshiping in Jerusalem on Pentecost, and I’ve been minding my own business the whole time. Nobody can say they saw me arguing in the Temple or working up a crowd in the streets. Not one of their charges can be backed up with evidence or witnesses.
14-15 “But I do freely admit this: In regard to the Way, which they malign as a dead-end street, I serve and worship the very same God served and worshiped by all our ancestors and embrace everything written in all our Scriptures. And I admit to living in hopeful anticipation that God will raise the dead, both the good and the bad. If that’s my crime, my accusers are just as guilty as I am.
16-19 “Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do. I’ve been out of the country for a number of years and now I’m back. While I was away, I took up a collection for the poor and brought that with me, along with offerings for the Temple. It was while making those offerings that they found me quietly at my prayers in the Temple. There was no crowd, there was no disturbance. It was some Jews from around Ephesus who started all this trouble. And you’ll notice they’re not here today. They’re cowards, too cowardly to accuse me in front of you.
20-21 “So ask these others what crime they’ve caught me in. Don’t let them hide behind this smooth-talking Tertullus. The only thing they have on me is that one sentence I shouted out in the council: ‘It’s because I believe in the resurrection that I’ve been hauled into this court!’ Does that sound to you like grounds for a criminal case?”
22-23 Felix waffled. He knew far more about the Way than he let on, and could have settled the case then and there. But uncertain of his best move politically, he played for time. “When Captain Lysias comes down, I’ll decide your case.” He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to more or less give him the run of the place and not prevent his friends from helping him.
24-26 A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient.” At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently.
27 After two years of this, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Still playing up to the Jews and ignoring justice, Felix left Paul in prison.
Acts 24
King James Version
24 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, 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 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson