Accused of Sedition

24 Now after ^(A)five days ^(B)Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.

² And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and ^[a]prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, ³ we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your ^[b]courtesy, a few words from us. ^5 (C)For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (D)He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, ^[c]and wanted ^(E)to judge him according to our law. ^7 (F)But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, ^8 (G)commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” ⁹ And the Jews also ^[d]assented, maintaining that these things were so.

The Defense Before Felix

¹⁰ Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, ¹¹ because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem ^(H)to worship. ^12 (I)And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(J)the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the ^(K)God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in ^(L)the Law and in the Prophets. ^15 (M)I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, ^(N)that there will be a resurrection ^[e]of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. ^16 (O)This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

¹⁷ “Now after many years ^(P)I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, ^18 (Q)in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me ^(R)purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. ^19 (S)They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let those who are here themselves say ^[f]if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, ²¹ unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ^(T)‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”

Felix Procrastinates

²² But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the ^(U)Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When ^(V)Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” ²³ So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and ^(W)told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.

²⁴ And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the ^(X)faith in Christ. ²⁵ Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” ²⁶ Meanwhile he also hoped that ^(Y)money would be given him by Paul, ^[g]that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

²⁷ But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, ^(Z)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.