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
New King James Version
Accused of Sedition
24 Now after (A)five days (B)Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and [a]prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your [b]courtesy, a few words from us. 5 (C)For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 (D)He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, [c]and wanted (E)to judge him according to our law. 7 (F)But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 (G)commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews also [d]assented, maintaining that these things were so.
The Defense Before Felix
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, 11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem (H)to worship. 12 (I)And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to (J)the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the (K)God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in (L)the Law and in the Prophets. 15 (M)I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, (N)that there will be a resurrection [e]of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 16 (O)This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
17 “Now after many years (P)I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, 18 (Q)in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me (R)purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. 19 (S)They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let those who are here themselves say [f]if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, (T)‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
Felix Procrastinates
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the (U)Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When (V)Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and (W)told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the (X)faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that (Y)money would be given him by Paul, [g]that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, (Z)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.
Footnotes
- Acts 24:2 Or reforms are
- Acts 24:4 graciousness
- Acts 24:6 NU ends the sentence here and omits the rest of v. 6, all of v. 7, and the first clause of v. 8.
- Acts 24:9 NU, M joined the attack
- Acts 24:15 NU omits of the dead
- Acts 24:20 NU, M what wrongdoing they found
- Acts 24:26 NU omits that he might release him
Acts 24
Darby Translation
24 And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.
2 And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,
3 we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.
5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;
6 who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;
7 but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took [him] away with great force out of our hands,
8 having commanded his accusers to come to thee;] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.
9 And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.
10 But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.
11 As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
12 and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
13 neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers' God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;
15 having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.
16 For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.
17 And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.
18 Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,
19 who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;
20 or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,
21 [other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.
22 And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;
23 ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.
24 And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;
26 hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.
27 But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.
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