¹¹ Then they secretly instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”^(A)

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰ but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward^(A)

¹⁰ seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”^{(A) 11} The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, ¹² they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. ¹³ The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him, and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.^(B)

² who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also “was faithful in all^[a] God’s^[b] house.” ³ Yet Jesus^[c] is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.^{(A) 4} (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)^{(B) 5} Now Moses was faithful in all God’s^[d] house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later.^(C)

¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,^(A)

⁸ And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their judgment is deserved!^(A)

⁷ When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.^(A)

³ and requested, as a favor to them against Paul,^[a] to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way.^(A)

Paul before Felix at Caesarea

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.^{(A) 2} When Paul^[a] had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Because of you, most excellent Felix, we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. ³ In every way and everywhere we welcome this with utmost gratitude.^{(B) 4} But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. ⁵ We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.^{[b](C) 6} He even tried to profane the temple, so we seized him.^{[c](D) 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.”

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.^(E)

Paul’s Defense before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

“I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this people.^{(F) 11} As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(G) 12} They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.^{(H) 13} Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.^(I)