保罗在腓利斯面前受审

24 五天后,大祭司亚拿尼亚带着几个长老和一位叫帖土罗的律师下到凯撒利亚,向总督控告保罗。 保罗被传来后,帖土罗指控他说:“腓利斯大人深谋远虑,在大人的领导下,国中有许多改革,我们常享太平。 我们对大人的恩德感激不尽。 我不敢耽误大人太久,只求大人容我们简单叙述。 我们发现这个人惹事生非,到处煽动犹太人闹事。他是拿撒勒教派的一个头目, 企图玷污圣殿,被我们抓住了。我们想按照犹太律法处置他, 不料吕西亚千夫长却硬把他从我们手中抢走, 并命令告他的人到大人这里来。[a]大人亲自审问他,就会知道我们告他的事了。” 在场的犹太人也随声附和,表示这些事属实。

保罗的申辩

10 总督点头示意保罗可以发言,于是保罗说:“我知道大人在犹太执法多年,我很乐意在你面前为自己辩护。 11 大人明鉴,从我上耶路撒冷礼拜至今不过十二天。 12 这些人根本没有见过我在圣殿、会堂或城里与人争辩,聚众闹事。 13 他们对我的指控毫无根据。 14 但有一点我必须承认,就是我依循他们称之为异端的道事奉我们祖先的上帝,我也相信律法书和先知书的一切记载, 15 并且我与他们在上帝面前有同样的盼望,就是义人和不义的人都要复活。 16 因此,我一直尽力在上帝和人面前都做到问心无愧。

17 “我离开耶路撒冷已有多年,这次回来是带着捐款要周济同胞,并献上祭物。 18 他们看见我的时候,我已行过洁净礼,正在圣殿里献祭,没有聚众,也没有作乱。 19 当时只有几个从亚细亚来的犹太人在那里,如果他们有事要告我,应该到你这里告我; 20 不然,请这些出庭的人指出他们在公会审问我时发现了什么罪。 21 如果有,也无非是当时我站在他们当中喊了一句,‘我今天在你们面前受审与死人复活有关。’”

22 腓利斯原本对这道颇有认识,于是下令休庭,说:“等吕西亚千夫长抵达后,我再断你们的案子。” 23 他派百夫长看守保罗,给他一定的自由,也允许亲友来供应他的需要。

24 几天后,腓利斯和他的妻子犹太人土西拉一同来了,召见保罗,听他讲信基督耶稣的事。 25 当保罗讲到公义、节制和将来的审判时,腓利斯十分恐惧,说:“你先下去吧,改天有机会,我再叫你来。” 26 腓利斯希望保罗贿赂他,所以经常召他来谈话。 27 过了两年,波求·非斯都接任总督,腓利斯为了讨好犹太人,仍然把保罗留在监里。

Footnotes

  1. 24:8 有古卷无“我们想按照犹太律法处置他,不料吕西亚千夫长却硬把他从我们手中抢走,并命令告他的人到大人这里来。”

The Jews say bad things about Paul

24 Five days after that, Ananias, the leader of the priests, went to Caesarea. Some important Jews went with him. A man called Tertullus also went with them. He was a lawyer. All these people went to meet with Felix, the ruler. They told Felix what Paul had done. Felix would judge who was right. Felix told a soldier to bring Paul to the meeting. Then Tertullus began to speak against Paul. He said, ‘Sir, you have ruled us well for many years. Because of you, our country has had no wars for a long time. You have made new laws that are good for our country. You have thought well about how you should lead us. Everywhere, the people are happy about what you have done. So we want to thank you very much for all these good things. I do not want you to sit here for a long time. So I will speak for a short time about our problem. Please be kind to us and listen to me.

We know that this man brings trouble everywhere. Anywhere in the world that Jewish people live, he makes them angry. Then they all fight each other. He is the leader of a group called the Nazarenes.’[a]

‘He also did bad things in the temple that are against our laws. So we took hold of him.[b] [We wanted to judge him by what our own law says. But Lysias, the leader of the soldiers, came to us. He attacked us and he took Paul away from us. Then he told us to come and to speak to you about it.] You should ask this man some questions about what he has done. You will find out that what we say against him is true.’

The other Jews that were there also spoke against Paul. They said, ‘All these things that Tertullus has said are true.’

Paul tells Felix his own story

10 Then Felix raised his hand towards Paul to show that he should speak. So Paul said to Felix, ‘I know that you have judged the people in this region for many years. So now I am happy to tell you everything. 11 I went to Jerusalem less than 12 days ago. You can check that that is true. I went there to worship God. 12 When the Jews saw me in the temple, I was not arguing with anyone. I was not causing trouble among Jewish people in their meeting places. Nor did I cause problems in any other places in Jerusalem. 13 They have said bad things against me. But they cannot show you that these things are true. 14 What I do agree is this: I worship the same God that our Jewish ancestors worshipped. But I do this in the Way that Jesus has taught us. These men say that this is not the right way. But I believe in all God's Law that Moses wrote for us. I also believe in the messages that God's prophets have written in the Bible. 15 I also trust God like these men do. Like them, I believe that people will become alive again after death. God will do this for all people, both good people and bad people. 16 Because of that, I always try to do what is right. I do not want to do anything bad against God or against other people.

17 I had not been to Jerusalem for several years. Now I returned there with a gift of some money. I brought it to give to poor people who are Jews, like me. I also wanted to offer sacrifices to God. 18 I was doing this in the yard of the temple when these men found me. I had obeyed all the rules to make myself clean in front of God. There was no crowd with me. Nobody was arguing or fighting because of me. 19 But there were some Jews there who had come from Asia. They are the people who caused the trouble. Maybe they have something bad to say against me. They themselves should come here to speak to you about it. 20 Or these men here should tell you what wrong thing I have done. I stood in front of the meeting of the Jewish leaders and they asked me questions. 21 When I stood there, I shouted, “I believe that dead people will rise and they will live again. That is the reason why you are judging me today.” They may think that is a wrong thing that I did.’

22 Felix knew much about the Way of the Lord Jesus. He now said that the meeting had finished. He said to Paul, ‘Soon Lysias, the leader of the soldiers, will arrive here. Then I will decide what to do with you.’ 23 He said to the officer who was holding Paul, ‘Continue to guard this man carefully. But his friends can come and see him. They can help him and they can bring things for him.’

Felix and Drusilla listen to Paul

24 After some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his Jewish wife. He told his soldiers to bring Paul to them. Paul talked to them, and they listened to everything that he said. Paul spoke about how people believed in Jesus, the Messiah. 25 Paul continued to speak for some time. He said, ‘People need to do what is right. They need to stop themselves doing wrong things. One day, God will judge people for how they have lived.’

While Paul talked about these things, Felix became afraid. He said to Paul, ‘You can leave us now. At some time I may want to listen to you again. Then I will ask you to come to me again.’ 26 But Felix also hoped that Paul would give him some money.[c] For that reason he often met with Paul and they talked together.

27 This happened for two years. Felix left Paul in the prison, because he wanted to make the Jewish leaders happy. Then Porcius Festus became the ruler instead of Felix.

Footnotes

  1. 24:5 Tertullus wanted Felix to think that Paul was a problem to the Roman authority.
  2. 24:6 Part of verses 6, 7 and 8 are not in all copies of the Bible.
  3. 24:26 Some rulers wanted people in prison to give them money. Then the rulers would let them go. If the rulers did this, they would not be obeying the law.

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.

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,

We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

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:

Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

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

Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

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.

保羅受審

24 過了五天,大祭司亞拿尼亞同幾個長老,和一個律師帖土羅來了,他們向總督控告保羅。 保羅傳來了之後,帖土羅就控訴他說:“腓力斯大人,因著你的緣故,我們大大地享受著太平;因著你的遠見,本國大事改革; 我們隨時隨地感激不盡。 現在我不想多煩擾你,只求你寬容一下,聽我們講幾句話。 我們看這個人就像瘟疫一樣,是煽動普天下猶太人生亂的人,又是拿撒勒派的首領。 他還意圖污穢聖殿,我們就把他捉住。(有些抄本在此有以下一段:“我們想按照我們的律法審問他。7可是千夫長呂西亞來了,用武力把他從我們手中搶走,8還吩咐原告到你這裡來。”) 你親自審問之後,就必清楚知道我們告他的一切事了。” 猶太人也都跟他一同控告保羅,證實事情確是這樣。

保羅在腓力斯面前申辯

10 總督向保羅示意,叫他說話,他就說:“我知道你在本國審案多年,所以樂意為自己申辯。 11 你清楚知道,自從我上耶路撒冷去禮拜,到現在還沒有十二天; 12 無論在殿裡、會堂中或城裡,他們都沒有看見我跟人辯論,或煽動群眾作亂, 13 也不能向你證明他們現在控告我的事。 14 但有一件事我要向你承認,他們所稱為異端的這道,我正是根據這道來敬拜我祖先的 神的。一切律法和先知所記的,我都相信。 15 我靠著 神所存的盼望,也是他們自己所期待的,就是義人和不義的人都要復活; 16 因此,我常常勉勵自己,對 神對人要常存無虧的良心。 17 過了幾年我帶著捐款回來賙濟本國,同時也帶了祭物, 18 他們看見我在殿裡的時候,我已經行完了潔淨禮,並沒有和一大群人在一起,也沒有生亂, 19 只有幾個從亞西亞來的猶太人而已。他們若有事要控告我,就應該到你面前來控告。 20 要不然,當我站在公議會中受審的時候,這些人若發現我有甚麼罪行,早就親自說出來了。 21 如果有的話,就是我站在他們中間所喊的:‘我今天在你們面前受審,是為了死人復活的事’那一句話。”

22 腓力斯本來就詳細曉得這道,卻故意拖延他們,說:“等千夫長呂西亞來了,再斷定你們的事。” 23 於是吩咐百夫長看守保羅,但要寬待他,不可阻止親友來照料他。

腓力斯聽道後害怕起來

24 過了幾天,腓力斯和他的猶太妻子土西拉一同來到,他又傳見保羅,聽他談論在耶穌基督裡的信仰。 25 保羅講到公義、自制和將來的審判的時候,腓力斯就害怕起來,說:“你先走吧,等我有空的時候再叫你來。” 26 同時他也希望保羅送錢給他,所以又多次傳見他,和他談話。

27 過了兩年,波求.非斯都接了腓力斯的任;腓力斯為要討好猶太人,就把保羅留在監裡。