Acts 24
Legacy Standard Bible
Paul’s Trial Before Felix the Governor
24 Now after (A)five days the high priest (B)Ananias came down with some elders, [a]with an [b]attorney named Tertullus, and they [c]brought charges to (C)the governor against Paul. 2 And after Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
“As we have attained much peace through you—and because by your provision reforms are being carried out for this nation— 3 we welcome this in every way and everywhere, (D)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But, that I may not weary you any further, I plead with you by your forbearance to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout [d]the world, and a ringleader of the (E)sect of the Nazarenes. 6 And he even tried to (F)desecrate the temple; and [e]then we arrested him. [f][We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 (G)And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
10 And when (H)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul answered:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you are able to ascertain the fact that no more than (I)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 (J)And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor across the city did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or (K)causing [g]a riot. 13 (L)Nor are they able to prove to you of what they are now accusing me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to (M)the Way, which they call a (N)sect, I do serve [h](O)the God of our fathers, (P)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, for which (Q)these men are waiting, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 In view of this, (R)I also [i]do my best to maintain always a conscience without fault both before God and before men. 17 Now (S)after several years I (T)came to bring [j]alms to my nation and offerings; 18 in which they found me, having been (U)purified in the temple, without any (V)crowd or uproar. But there were some (W)Jews from [k]Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to (X)make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves tell what wrongdoing they found when I stood before (Y)the Sanhedrin, 21 other than for this one statement which (Z)I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”
22 But Felix, having a more accurate knowledge about (AA)the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the [l]commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be (AB)kept in custody and yet (AC)have some rest, and not to prevent any of (AD)his friends from ministering to him.
24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his [m]wife who was a Jewess, and summoned Paul and heard him speak about (AE)faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing (AF)righteousness, (AG)self-control, and (AH)the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and answered, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will call for you.” 26 At the same time, he was also hoping that (AI)money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to summon for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix [n]was succeeded by Porcius (AJ)Festus, and (AK)wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul (AL)imprisoned.
Footnotes
- Acts 24:1 Lit and
- Acts 24:1 Lit orator
- Acts 24:1 Or presented their evidence
- Acts 24:5 Lit the inhabited earth
- Acts 24:6 Lit also
- Acts 24:6 The early mss omit rest of v 6, v 7, and first part of v 8
- Acts 24:12 Lit an attack of a mob
- Acts 24:14 Lit the ancestral God
- Acts 24:16 Lit practice myself
- Acts 24:17 Or gifts to charity
- Acts 24:18 West coast province of Asia Minor
- Acts 24:22 Military leader over 1,000 soldiers
- Acts 24:24 Lit own wife
- Acts 24:27 Lit received a successor, Porcius Festus
Acts 24
Common English Bible
Paul’s trial before Felix
24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They pressed charges against Paul before the governor. 2 After the governor summoned Paul, Tertullus began to make his case against him. He declared, “Under your leadership, we have experienced substantial peace, and your administration has brought reforms to our nation. 3 Always and everywhere, most honorable Felix, we acknowledge this with deep gratitude. 4 I don’t want to take too much of your time, so I ask that you listen with your usual courtesy to our brief statement of the facts. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the empire. He’s a ringleader of the Nazarene faction 6 and even tried to defile the temple. That’s when we arrested him.[a] 8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to verify the allegations we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews reinforced the action against Paul, affirming the truth of these accusations.
10 The governor nodded at Paul, giving him permission to speak.
He responded, “I know that you have been judge over this nation for many years, so I gladly offer my own defense. 11 You can verify that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd, whether in the synagogue or anywhere else in the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the allegations they are now bringing against me. 14 I do admit this to you, that I am a follower of the Way, which they call a faction. Accordingly, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe everything set out in the Law and written in the Prophets. 15 The hope I have in God I also share with my accusers, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 On account of this, I have committed myself to maintaining a clear conscience before God and with all people. 17 After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring gifts for the poor of my nation and to offer sacrifices. 18 When they found me in the temple, I was ritually pure. There was no crowd and no disturbance. 19 But there were some Jews from the province of Asia. They should be here making their accusations, if indeed they have something against me. 20 In their absence, have these people who are here declare what crime they found when I stood before the Jerusalem Council. 21 Perhaps it concerns this one statement that I blurted out when I was with them: ‘I am on trial before you today because of the resurrection of the dead.’”
22 Felix, who had an accurate understanding of the Way, adjourned the meeting. He said, “When Lysias the commander arrives from Jerusalem, I will decide this case.” 23 He arranged for a centurion to guard Paul. He was to give Paul some freedom, and his friends were not to be hindered in their efforts to provide for him.
Paul in custody
24 After several days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and summoned Paul. He listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 When he spoke about upright behavior, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became fearful and said, “Go away for now! When I have time, I’ll send for you.” 26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him some money, so he often sent for him and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Footnotes
- Acts 24:6 Critical editions of the Gk New Testament do not include We wanted to put him on trial according to our Law, 7 but Lysias the commander arrived and took him from our hands with great force. 8 Then he ordered his accusers to appear before you.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible