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]