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. 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, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, (D)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I may not [c]weary you further, I beg you [d]to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness. 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. And he even tried to (F)desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.[f] By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him.” (G)The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

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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.

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