Acts 24:10-23

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁰ When ^(A)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, ¹¹ since you can take note of the fact that no more than ^(B)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ^12 (C)Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or ^(D)causing ^[a]a riot. ^13 (E)Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I admit 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, which ^(J)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ In view of this, ^(K)I also ^[c]do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. ¹⁷ Now ^(L)after several years I ^(M)came to bring ^[d]alms to my nation and to present offerings; ¹⁸ in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been ^(N)purified, 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 misdeed they found when I stood before ^(R)the ^[f]Council, 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, ^[g]having a more exact knowledge about ^(T)the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the ^[h]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 freedom, and not to prevent any of ^(W)his friends from ministering to him.