Acts 24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 24
Trial Before Felix. 1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an advocate, a certain Tertullus, and they presented formal charges against Paul to the governor. 2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Since we have attained much peace through you, and reforms have been accomplished in this nation through your provident care, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude. 4 But in order not to detain you further, I ask you to give us a brief hearing with your customary graciousness. 5 (A)We found this man to be a pest; he creates dissension among Jews all over the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazoreans.[a] 6 He even tried to desecrate our temple, but we arrested him.(B) [7 ][b] 8 If you examine him you will be able to learn from him for yourself about everything of which we are accusing him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack and asserted that these things were so.
10 [c]Then the governor motioned to him to speak and Paul replied, “I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years and so I am pleased to make my defense before you. 11 As you can verify, not more than twelve days have passed since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city did they find me arguing with anyone or instigating a riot among the people. 13 Nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me. 14 But this I do admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors and I believe everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.(C) 15 I have the same hope in God as they themselves have that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous.(D) 16 Because of this, I always strive to keep my conscience clear before God and man.(E) 17 After many years, I came to bring alms for my nation and offerings.(F) 18 While I was so engaged, they found me, after my purification, in the temple without a crowd or disturbance.(G) 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia, who should be here before you to make whatever accusation they might have against me— 20 or let these men themselves state what crime they discovered when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 unless it was my one outcry as I stood among them, that ‘I am on trial before you today for the resurrection of the dead.’”(H)
22 Then Felix, who was accurately informed about the Way, postponed the trial, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I shall decide your case.” 23 He gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from caring for his needs.
Captivity in Caesarea. 24 [d]Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He had Paul summoned and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he spoke about righteousness and self-restraint and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now; when I find an opportunity I shall summon you again.” 26 At the same time he hoped that a bribe would be offered him by Paul, and so he sent for him very often and conversed with him.
27 Two years passed and Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Wishing to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.[e]
Footnotes
- 24:5 Nazoreans: that is, followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
- 24:7 The Western text has added here a verse (really Acts 24:6b–8a) that is not found in the best Greek manuscripts. It reads, “and would have judged him according to our own law, but the cohort commander Lysias came and violently took him out of our hands and ordered his accusers to come before you.”
- 24:10–21 Whereas the advocate Tertullus referred to Paul’s activities on his missionary journeys, the apostle narrowed the charges down to the riot connected with the incident in the temple (see Acts 21:27–30; 24:17–20). In his defense, Paul stresses the continuity between Christianity and Judaism.
- 24:24, 25 The way of Christian discipleship greatly disquiets Felix, who has entered into an adulterous marriage with Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa I. This marriage provides the background for the topics Paul speaks about and about which Felix does not want to hear.
- 24:27 Very little is known of Porcius Festus who was a procurator of Judea from A.D. 60 to 62.
使徒行传 24
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
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。 2 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。 3 我们对大人的恩德感激不尽。 4 我不敢耽误大人太久，只求大人容我们简单叙述。 5 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， 6 企图玷污圣殿，被我们抓住了。我们想按照犹太律法处置他， 7 不料吕西亚千夫长却硬把他从我们手中抢走， 8 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。” 9 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
- 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。”
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