Acts 24
Christian Standard Bible
The Accusation against Paul
24 Five days later Ananias(A) the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.(B) 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent(C) Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague,(D) an agitator(E) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.(F) 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him.[a] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.
Paul’s Defense before Felix
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.(G) 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.(H) 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.(I) 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way,(J) which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.(K) 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection,[b](L) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.(M) 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience(N) toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.(O) 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.(P) 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
The Verdict Postponed
22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way,(Q) he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting[c] his needs.(R)
24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,(S) Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money.[d] So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus(T) succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor,(U) he left Paul in prison.(V)
Footnotes
- 24:6 Some mss include vv. 6b-8a: and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you.
- 24:15 Other mss add of the dead
- 24:23 Other mss add or visiting
- 24:26 Other mss add so that he might release him
Acts 24
Lexham English Bible
Paul Before Felix at Caesarea Maritima
24 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, all of whom brought charges against Paul to the governor. 2 And when[a] he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him,[b] saying, “We have experienced[c] much[d] peace through you, and reforms are taking place in this nation through your foresight. 3 Both in every way and everywhere we acknowledge this,[e] most excellent Felix, with all gratitude. 4 But so that I may not impose on you for longer, I implore you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. 5 For we have found[f] this man to be a public menace and one who causes riots among all the Jews throughout the Roman Empire[g] and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6 who even attempted to desecrate the temple, and we arrested him[h].[i] 8 When[j] you yourself examine him[k] you will be able to find out from him[l] about all these things of which we are accusing him.” 9 And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting these things were so.
10 And when[m] the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I[n] know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully with respect to the things concerning myself. 11 You can ascertain that it has not been more than[o] twelve days since[p] I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts[q] nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things[r] to you concerning which they are now accusing me. 14 But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets, 15 having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 For this reason[s] also I myself always[t] do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people. 17 So after many years, I came to practice charitable giving and offerings to my people,[u] 18 in which they found me purified in the temple courts,[v] not with a crowd or with a disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from Asia[w] who ought to be present before you and bring charges against me,[x] if they have anything against me, 20 or these men themselves should say what crime they found when[y] I stood before the Sanhedrin,[z] 21 other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted while[aa] standing there before them: ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!’”
Paul Held Awaiting Trial
22 But Felix, because he[ab] understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the military tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”[ac] 23 He ordered[ad] the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own people[ae] from serving him.
24 And after some days, when[af] Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And while[ag] he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and[ah] replied, “Go away for the present, and when I[ai] have an opportunity, I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and[aj] talked with him. 27 And when[ak] two years had passed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus. And because he[al] wanted to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul behind as a prisoner.[am]
Footnotes
- Acts 24:2 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had been summoned”)
- Acts 24:2 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 24:2 Here this participle (“have experienced”) and the following participle (“are taking place”) have been translated as finite verbs in keeping with English style
- Acts 24:2 Or “many years,” with “years” understood
- Acts 24:3 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 24:5 Here this participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
- Acts 24:5 Literally “the inhabited earth,” but here this is probably rhetorical hyperbole for the Roman Empire, especially since Felix, the Roman governor, is being addressed
- Acts 24:6 Literally “whom”
- Acts 24:6 Some later manuscripts include the following additional material between v. 6 and v. 8: “and we wanted to judge him according to our law, (24:7) but Lysius the military tribune came and took him from our hands with much violence, (24:8) ordering his accusers to come before you.”
- Acts 24:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“examine”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 24:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 24:8 Literally “whom”
- Acts 24:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“gestured”)
- Acts 24:10 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 24:11 Literally “there are not to me more than”
- Acts 24:11 Literally “from which time”
- Acts 24:12 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Acts 24:13 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 24:16 Literally “by this”
- Acts 24:16 Literally “through everything”
- Acts 24:17 Or “nation”
- Acts 24:18 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Acts 24:19 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
- Acts 24:19 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 24:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“stood”)
- Acts 24:20 Or “council”
- Acts 24:21 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“standing there”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 24:22 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“understood”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 24:22 Literally “the case with respect to you”
- Acts 24:23 Here this participle (“ordered”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
- Acts 24:23 This could refer to either friends or relatives
- Acts 24:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 24:25 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was discussing”)
- Acts 24:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“became”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 24:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 24:26 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent for”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 24:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had passed”)
- Acts 24:27 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 24:27 Literally “bound”
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