10 And when[a] the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I[b] know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully with respect to the things concerning myself. 11 You can ascertain that it has not been more than[c] twelve days since[d] I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts[e] nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city. 13 Nor can they prove the things[f] to you concerning which they are now accusing me. 14 But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets, 15 having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 For this reason[g] also I myself always[h] do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people. 17 So after many years, I came to practice charitable giving and offerings to my people,[i] 18 in which they found me purified in the temple courts,[j] not with a crowd or with a disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from Asia[k] who ought to be present before you and bring charges against me,[l] if they have anything against me, 20 or these men themselves should say what crime they found when[m] I stood before the Sanhedrin,[n] 21 other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted while[o] standing there before them: ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 24:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“gestured”)
  2. Acts 24:10 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
  3. Acts 24:11 Literally “there are not to me more than”
  4. Acts 24:11 Literally “from which time
  5. Acts 24:12 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  6. Acts 24:13 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Acts 24:16 Literally “by this”
  8. Acts 24:16 Literally “through everything”
  9. Acts 24:17 Or “nation”
  10. Acts 24:18 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  11. Acts 24:19 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  12. Acts 24:19 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  13. Acts 24:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“stood”)
  14. Acts 24:20 Or “council”
  15. Acts 24:21 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“standing there”) which is understood as temporal

10 When the governor(A) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(B) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(C) or stirring up a crowd(D) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(E) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(F) as a follower of the Way,(G) which they call a sect.(H) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(I) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(J) of both the righteous and the wicked.(K) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(L) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(M) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(N) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(O) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(P) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(Q) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(R)

Read full chapter

10 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council[a] found me guilty of, 21 except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 24:20 Greek Sanhedrin.