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10 And when (A)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 (B)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 (C)And neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor across the city did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or (D)causing [a]a riot. 13 (E)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 (F)the Way, which they call a (G)sect, I do serve [b](H)the God of our fathers, (I)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, for which (J)these men are waiting, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 In view of this, (K)I also [c]do my best to maintain always a conscience without fault both before God and before men. 17 Now (L)after several years I (M)came to bring [d]alms to my nation and offerings; 18 in which they found me, having been (N)purified in the temple, without any (O)crowd or uproar. But there were some (P)Jews from [e]Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to (Q)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 (R)the Sanhedrin, 21 other than for this one statement which (S)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 (T)the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the [f]commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be (U)kept in custody and yet (V)have some rest, and not to prevent any of (W)his friends from ministering to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:12 Lit an attack of a mob
  2. Acts 24:14 Lit the ancestral God
  3. Acts 24:16 Lit practice myself
  4. Acts 24:17 Or gifts to charity
  5. Acts 24:18 West coast province of Asia Minor
  6. Acts 24:22 Military leader over 1,000 soldiers

10 When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he replied:

“Since I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I am pleased to present my defense. 11 You can verify for yourself that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago. 12 They never found me debating with anyone in the Temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or throughout the city, 13 and they cannot prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. 14 However, I admit to you that in accordance with the Way, which they call a heresy,[a] I worship the God of our ancestors and believe in everything written in the Law and the Prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish—that there is to be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked. 16 Therefore, I always do my best to have a clear conscience before God and people. 17 After many years, I have come back to my people to bring gifts for the poor and to offer sacrifices. 18 They found me in the Temple doing these things just as I had completed the purification ceremony. No crowd or noisy mob was present. 19 But some Jews from Asia were there, and they should be here before you to accuse me if they have anything against me. 20 Otherwise, these men themselves should tell what wrong they found when I stood before the Council[b] 21 unless it is for the one thing I shouted as I stood among them: ‘It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

22 Felix was rather well informed about the Way, and so he adjourned the trial with the comment, “When Tribune Lysias arrives, I’ll decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to guard Paul[c] but to let him have some freedom and not to keep any of his friends from caring for his needs.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:14 Or sect
  2. Acts 24:20 Or Sanhedrin
  3. Acts 24:23 Lit. him