Acts 23:23-24:9

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

²³ Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.^{(A) 24} Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and take him safely to Felix the governor.”^{(B) 25} He wrote a letter to this effect:

²⁶ “Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.^{(C) 27} This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman, I came with the guard and rescued him.^{(D) 28} Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.^{(E) 29} I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.^{(F) 30} When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”^[a](G)

³¹ So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. ³² The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.^{(H) 33} When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.^{(I) 34} On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,^{(J) 35} he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.^[b](K)

Paul before Felix at Caesarea

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.^{(L) 2} When Paul^[c] had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. ³ In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude.^{(M) 4} But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. ⁵ We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.^{[d](N) 6} He even tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.^{[e](O) 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.^(P)