Acts 24
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Paul Is Accused Before Felix The Roman Governor By The High Priest And Others
24 And after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney[a], a certain Tertullus— who[b] brought-charges against Paul to the governor. 2 And he[c] having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Attaining much[d] peace through you, and reforms taking place for this nation through your foresight 3 both[e] in every way and everywhere— we welcome it, most-excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But in order that I may not hinder you further, I beg you to hear us briefly, by your kindness. 5 For having found this man to be a plague[f], and setting-in-motion disputes[g] among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6 who even tried to profane[h] the temple, whom also we seized—[i] 7 [j] 8 from whom you yourself, having examined him, will be able to learn about all these things of which we are accusing him”. 9 And the Jews also joined-in-the-attack, asserting that these things hold so.
Paul Defends Himself Against Their Charges
10 And Paul responded, the governor having nodded to him to speak, “Knowing-about you being a judge[k] to this nation for many years, I cheerfully speak-a-defense as to the things concerning myself— 11 you being able to learn that it is not more than twelve days from which day I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And neither in the temple did they find me arguing with anyone or causing an onset of a crowd— nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city! 13 Nor are they able to prove to you the things concerning which they now are accusing me. 14 But I confess this to you— that according to the Way which they call a sect, thus I am worshiping[l] the God of my ancestor[m], believing all the things in accordance with the Law, and the things having been written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God which these ones themselves also are waiting-for[n]— that there will-certainly be a resurrection of both righteous ones and unrighteous ones. 16 In this[o] indeed I am striving to have a blameless conscience toward God and people continually. 17 Now after many years I came to do acts-of-almsgiving[p] for my nation, and offerings, 18 during which they found me in the temple, having been purified[q]— not with a crowd, nor with a commotion. 19 But there were some Jews from Asia— who ought-to-have been present before you and accusing me, if they have something against me. 20 Or let these ones themselves say what crime they found, I having stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 other-than concerning this one shout which I cried-out while standing among them, that ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead’”.
Felix Adjourns The Hearing, But Keeps Paul In Relaxed Custody
22 And Felix adjourned[r] them, knowing more-accurately the things concerning the Way, having said, “Whenever Lysias the commander comes down, I will determine[s] the things concerning you[t] people”, 23 having given-orders to the centurion that he be kept [in custody] and that he have a relaxation[u] [of custody] and that they forbid none of his own people to serve him.
Paul Frequently Speaks To Felix, Who Hopes To Get Money From Paul
24 And after some days, Felix, having arrived with Drusilla[v] his own wife (she being a Jew), sent for Paul and listened-to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But while he was speaking about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment, Felix, having become afraid, responded, “As to the present, go. And having received an opportunity, I will summon you”— 26 at the same time also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore indeed, sending for him very-frequently, he was conversing with him.
Two Years Later, Paul Is Accused Before The New Governor, Festus
27 Now two years[w] having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor— Porcius Festus[x]. And wishing to gain[y] favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
Footnotes
- Acts 24:1 Or, advocate. That is, a lawyer in the Roman sense who could skillfully argue their case.
- Acts 24:1 This word is plural, referring to them all.
- Acts 24:2 That is, Paul.
- Acts 24:2 Or, a long.
- Acts 24:3 Punctuated this way, Tertullus is exaggerating Felix’s accomplishments. Or, foresight. We welcome it both in every way and everywhere, most. This exaggerates the Jews’ submission to and appreciation of Felix.
- Acts 24:5 That is, a public menace, a diseased one threatening our society.
- Acts 24:5 Or more strongly, riots.
- Acts 24:6 Tertullus is referring to 21:28-29. If he could prove this, Felix would execute Paul.
- Acts 24:6 Tertullus stops short of expressing their demand, leaving it to Felix to determine the penalty for himself.
- Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts say ‘seized. And we wanted to judge him according to our Law. But having arrived, Lysias the commander led him away from our hands with much violence, having commanded his accusers to come before you, from whom’.
- Acts 24:10 That is, one administering justice.
- Acts 24:14 Or, serving.
- Acts 24:14 Paul is linking himself and the Way to historic Judaism, which had the protection of Roman law.
- Acts 24:15 Or, accepting.
- Acts 24:16 That is, this way of worshiping and serving.
- Acts 24:17 That is, acts of charity. This may refer to the gift brought from the Gentile churches, Rom 15:26.
- Acts 24:18 That is, in obedience to its laws, not in violation of them.
- Acts 24:22 Or, deferred, postponed.
- Acts 24:22 Or, decide.
- Acts 24:22 This word is plural.
- Acts 24:23 Or, loosening, abatement. That is, that Paul have a measure of freedom within his confinement, in deference to his Roman citizenship.
- Acts 24:24 She was the daughter of Agrippa I (12:1), and sister of Agrippa II and Bernice (25:13).
- Acts 24:27 During this period, Luke gathered the information to write (and may have written) Luke and much of Acts. See also 28:30.
- Acts 24:27 He was the fifth procurator of Judea, serving from a.d. 59-62. He was appointed by the emperor Nero.
- Acts 24:27 Or, grant a favor to. Having been recalled to Rome regarding another incident, Felix wanted no further problems following him there, as might have happened if he had released Paul.
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.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
