Acts 24
King James Version
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.
2 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,
3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
5 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:
6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
9 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.
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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