¹⁹ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(A) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(B)

¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’^[a](A)

Witnesses

¹⁵ One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.^(A)

⁶ An elder must be blameless,^(A) faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe^[a] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^[a](B)

⁶ On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.^(A)

²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^(A)

¹⁶ “I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges.^(A)

² When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent^(A) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots^(B) among the Jews^(C) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene^(D) sect^{(E) 6} and even tried to desecrate the temple;^(F) so we seized him. ^{[7] [a] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹ The other Jews joined in the accusation,^(G) asserting that these things were true.

¹⁰ When the governor^(H) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. ¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days^(I) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,^(J) or stirring up a crowd^(K) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.^(L)