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Acts 24-25
New American Standard Bible

Paul before Felix

24 Now after (A)five days the high priest (B)Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they [a]brought charges against Paul to (C)the governor. 2 After [b]Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began accusing him, saying to the governor,

“Since we have attained great peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation by your foresight, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, (D)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But, that I may not [c]weary you further, I beg you [d]to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness. 5 For we have found this man a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout [e]the world, and a ringleader of the (E)sect of the Nazarenes. 6 And he even tried to (F)desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.[f] 8 By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him.” 9 (G)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 responded:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than (I)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 (J)And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or (K)causing [g]a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself. 13 (L)Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But I confess this to you, that in accordance with [h](M)the Way, which they call a (N)sect, I do serve (O)the God of our fathers, (P)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which (Q)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 In view of this (R)I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always. 17 Now (S)after several years I (T)came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings, 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been (U)purified, without any (V)crowd or uproar. But there were some (W)Jews from [i]Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to have been (X)bringing charges, if they should have anything against me. 20 Or else have these men themselves declare what violation they discovered when I stood before (Y)the [j]Council, 21 other than in regard to this one declaration which (Z)I shouted while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today!’”

22 But Felix, [k]having quite accurate knowledge about [l](AA)the Way, adjourned them, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He gave orders to the centurion for [m]Paul to be (AB)kept in custody and yet (AC)have some freedom, and not to prevent any of (AD)his friends from providing for his needs.

24 Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his [n]wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for 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 responded, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that (AI)money would be given to him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and talk with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix [o]was succeeded by Porcius (AJ)Festus; and Felix, (AK)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul (AL)imprisoned.

Paul before Festus

25 Festus, then, after arriving in (AM)the province, went up to Jerusalem from (AN)Caesarea three days later. 2 And the chief priests and the leading men of the Jews (AO)brought charges against Paul, and they were pleading with [p]Festus, 3 requesting a [q]concession against [r]Paul, that he might [s]have him brought to Jerusalem (at the same time, (AP)setting an ambush to kill him on the way). 4 Festus then (AQ)answered that Paul (AR)was being kept in custody in (AS)Caesarea, and that he himself was about to leave shortly. 5 “Therefore,” he *said, “have the influential men among you [t]go there with me, and if there is anything wrong [u]about the man, have them bring charges against him.”

6 After Festus had spent no more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to (AT)Caesarea, and on the next day he took his seat on (AU)the tribunal and ordered that Paul be brought. 7 After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing (AV)many, and serious, charges against him (AW)which they could not prove, 8 while Paul said in his own defense, “(AX)I have not done anything wrong either against the Law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against Caesar.” 9 But Festus, (AY)wanting to do the Jews a favor, replied to Paul and said, “(AZ)Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and [v]stand trial before me on these charges?” 10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s (BA)tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know. 11 If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I (BB)appeal to Caesar.” 12 Then when Festus had conferred with [w]his council, he answered, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.”

13 Now when several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in (BC)Caesarea, paying their respects to Festus. 14 And while they were spending many days there, Festus presented Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man who was (BD)left as a prisoner by Felix; 15 and when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews (BE)brought charges against him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 I (BF)replied to them that it is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any person before (BG)the accused meets his accusers face to face, and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges. 17 So after they had assembled here, I did not delay, but on the next day took my seat on (BH)the tribunal and ordered that the man be brought. 18 When the accusers stood up, they did not begin bringing any charges [x]against him of crimes that I suspected, 19 but they simply had some (BI)points of disagreement with him about their own [y](BJ)religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20 And (BK)being at a loss how to investigate [z]such matters, I [aa]asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these matters. 21 But when Paul (BL)appealed to be held in custody for [ab]the Emperor’s decision, I ordered that he be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.” 22 Then (BM)Agrippa said to Festus, “I also would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” he *said, “you shall hear him.”

Paul before Agrippa

23 So, on the next day when (BN)Agrippa and (BO)Bernice came amid great pomp and entered the auditorium, [ac]accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought before them. 24 And Festus *said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen present with us, you see this man about whom (BP)all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that (BQ)he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that he had committed (BR)nothing deserving death; and since he himself (BS)appealed to [ad]the Emperor, I decided to send him. 26 [ae]Yet, I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him as well.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:1 Or presented their evidence or case
  2. Acts 24:2 Lit he
  3. Acts 24:4 Or impose on
  4. Acts 24:4 Lit to hear...briefly
  5. Acts 24:5 Lit the inhabited earth
  6. Acts 24:6 Late mss add as the remainder of v 6: We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. v 7: But Lysias the commander came along and took him out of our hands with much violence, and the first part of v 8: ordering his accusers to come before you.
  7. Acts 24:12 Lit an attack of a mob
  8. Acts 24:14 See John 14:6
  9. Acts 24:18 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 24:20 Or Sanhedrin
  11. Acts 24:22 Lit knowing more accurately
  12. Acts 24:22 See John 14:6
  13. Acts 24:23 Lit him
  14. Acts 24:24 Lit own wife
  15. Acts 24:27 Lit received as a successor, Porcius Festus
  16. Acts 25:2 Lit him
  17. Acts 25:3 Or favor
  18. Acts 25:3 Lit him
  19. Acts 25:3 Lit summon him to Jerusalem
  20. Acts 25:5 Lit go down
  21. Acts 25:5 Lit in
  22. Acts 25:9 Lit be judged
  23. Acts 25:12 A different group from that mentioned in Acts 4:15 and 24:20
  24. Acts 25:18 Lit in regard to him
  25. Acts 25:19 Or superstition
  26. Acts 25:20 Lit these
  27. Acts 25:20 Lit said
  28. Acts 25:21 Lit the Augustus’ (in this case Nero)
  29. Acts 25:23 Lit and with
  30. Acts 25:25 See note v 21
  31. Acts 25:26 Lit About whom I
Listen to Acts 24-25
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Acts 24-25
New International Version

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges(B) against Paul before the governor.(C) 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(D) 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(E) among the Jews(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene(G) sect(H) 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple;(I) 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,(J) asserting that these things were true.

10 When the governor(K) 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(L) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(M) or stirring up a crowd(N) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(O) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(P) as a follower of the Way,(Q) which they call a sect.(R) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(S) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(T) of both the righteous and the wicked.(U) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(V) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(W) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(X) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(Y) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(Z) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(AA) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(AB)

22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way,(AC) adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard(AD) but to give him some freedom(AE) and permit his friends to take care of his needs.(AF)

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.(AG) 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control(AH) and the judgment(AI) to come, Felix was afraid(AJ) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,(AK) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,(AL) he left Paul in prison.(AM)

Paul’s Trial Before Festus

25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus(AN) went up from Caesarea(AO) to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul.(AP) 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.(AQ) 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held(AR) at Caesarea,(AS) and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.”

6 After spending eight or ten days with them, Festus went down to Caesarea. The next day he convened the court(AT) and ordered that Paul be brought before him.(AU) 7 When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him,(AV) but they could not prove them.(AW)

8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple(AX) or against Caesar.”

9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor,(AY) said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”(AZ)

10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews,(BA) as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”(BB)

12 After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Festus Consults King Agrippa

13 A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea(BC) to pay their respects to Festus. 14 Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.(BD) 15 When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him(BE) and asked that he be condemned.

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.(BF) 17 When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in.(BG) 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute(BH) with him about their own religion(BI) and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. 20 I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.(BJ) 21 But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”(BK)

22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”(BL)

Paul Before Agrippa(BM)

23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice(BN) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community(BO) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.(BP) 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death,(BQ) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor(BR) I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:7 Some manuscripts include here him, and we would have judged him in accordance with our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came and took him from us with much violence, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.
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