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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

Paul’s Defense before Felix

10 And when the governor had motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Realizing that for many years you have been judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 As you may ascertain, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem; 12 and they did not find me disputing with any one or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets, 15 having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward God and toward men. 17 Now after some years I came to bring to my nation alms and offerings. 18 As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— 19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21 except this one thing which I cried out while standing among them, ‘With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you this day.’”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lys′ias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but should have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

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