Acts 24

The Voice

24 The high priest Ananias came north to Caesarea five days later, accompanied by some elders and an attorney named Tertullus. They explained their case to Felix without Paul present. ²When Paul was brought in, Tertullus launched into an accusation.

Tertullus: Most Excellent Felix, through your esteemed leadership we have enjoyed a long and happy peace. Your foresight in governance has brought many reforms for the people I represent. ³We always and everywhere welcome every thought of you with high and deep gratitude. ⁴But knowing how busy you are and how limited your time must be, I beg you to hear us briefly present our case to you with the legendary graciousness for which you are known everywhere.

⁵Here are the facts: this man is a disease to the body politic. He agitates trouble in Jewish communities throughout our empire as a ringleader of the heretical sect known as the Nazarenes. ⁶He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we seized him. [Our aim was to try him by the Jewish law, ⁷but Commandant Lysias interfered and removed this man from our control. ⁸Because of his meddling, you are now forced to hear those making the accusation.]^[a] You will find, through your own examination, that everything we say of Paul is true.

⁹The Jewish opponents present added their vigorous testimony in support of the lawyer’s opening statement. ¹⁰The governor didn’t say anything, but he motioned for Paul to speak.

Paul: I am happy now to make my defense to you, sir, knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years. ¹¹Just 12 days ago, I went up to Jerusalem to worship, as you can easily verify. ¹²I wasn’t arguing with anyone in the temple. I wasn’t stirring up a crowd in any of the synagogues. I wasn’t disturbing the peace of the city in any way. They did not find me doing these things in Jerusalem, ¹³nor can they prove that I have done any of the things of which they have accused me. ¹⁴But I can make this confession: I believe everything established by the Law and written in the Prophets, and I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way, which they call a heretical sect.

¹⁵Here is my crime: I have a hope in God that there will be a resurrection of both the just and unjust, which my opponents also share. ¹⁶Because of this hope, I always do my best to live with a clear conscience toward God and all people. ¹⁷I have been away for several years, so recently I brought gifts for the poor of my nation and offered sacrifices. ¹⁸When they found me, I was not disturbing anyone, nor was I gathering a crowd. No, I was quietly completing the rite of purification. Some Jews from Asia are the ones who started the disturbance— ¹⁹and if they have an accusation, they should be here to make it. ²⁰If these men here have some crime they have found me guilty of when I stood before their council, they should present it. ²¹Perhaps my crime is that I spoke this one sentence in my testimony before them: “I am on trial here today because I have hope that the dead are raised.”

²²Felix was quite knowledgeable about the Way. He adjourned the preliminary hearing.

Felix: When Lysias the commandant comes to Caesarea, I will decide your case.

²³He then ordered the officer to keep Paul in custody, but to permit him some freedom and to allow any of his friends to take care of his needs.

²⁴A few days later, Felix sent for Paul and gave him an opportunity to speak about faith in the Anointed One. Felix was accompanied by his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. ²⁵As Paul spoke of justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became fearful.

Felix: That’s enough for now. When I have time, I will send for you again.

²⁶They had a number of conversations of this sort; but Felix actually was hoping that, by having frequent contact with him, Paul might offer him a bribe. ²⁷As a favor to the Jews, he did nothing to resolve the case and left Paul in prison for two years. Then Felix completed his assignment as governor, and Porcius Festus succeeded him.