The Accusation against Paul

24 Five days later Ananias(A) the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.(B) When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent(C) Felix, with utmost gratitude. But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. For we have found this man to be a plague,(D) an agitator(E) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.(F) He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him.[a] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.

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Footnotes

  1. 24:6 Some mss include vv. 6b-8a: and wanted to judge him according to our law. But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, commanding his accusers to come to you.

Paul Presents His Case to Felix

24 Five days later, the high priest Ananias arrived with certain elders and Tertullus, an attorney, and they summarized their case against Paul before the governor. When Paul[a] had been summoned, Tertullus opened the prosecution by saying:

“Your Excellency Felix, since we are enjoying lasting peace because of you, and since reforms for this nation are being brought about through your foresight, we always and everywhere acknowledge it with profound gratitude. But so as not to detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. For we have found this man a perfect pest and an agitator among all Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader in the sect of the Nazarenes[b] and even tried to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.[c] By examining him for yourself, you will be able to find out from him everything of which we accuse him.”

The Jewish leaders[d] supported his accusations by asserting that these things were true.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:2 Lit. he
  2. Acts 24:5 The Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (cf. Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.
  3. Acts 24:6 Other mss. read arrested him, and we wanted to try him under our law. But Tribune Lysias came along and took him out of our hands with much force, ordering his accusers to come before you.
  4. Acts 24:9 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews