Book of Common Prayer
24 Five days later, Ananias the high priest came from Jerusalem. He brought with him some of the leaders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They told the ruler their complaint against Paul.
2 Paul was called in. Tertullus began to bring the complaints. `Great ruler Felix,' he said, `we have peace because of what you have done. These people have a better life because of you.
3 We are always very glad for this everywhere we go.
4 I do not want to take much of your time. But please be kind and listen to a few words from us.
5 We have found this man to be a real trouble-maker. He talks to the Jews all over the world and causes them to disobey the laws. He is the leading trouble-maker of the Nazarene group.
6 He even tried to make the temple unclean. But we caught him and were going to judge him by our law.
7 But Lysias the commanding officer came. He took Paul away from us by force.
8 He told those who have complaints against him to come to you. Ask him yourself and you will find out from him about all these complaints we have brought against him.'
9 The Jews agreed with what Tertullus the lawyer said. They said, `Yes, yes, he is telling the truth.'
10 The ruler made a sign for Paul to speak. So Paul said, `I know that for many years you have judged matters for this people.
11 So I am happy to speak for myself. Not more than twelve days ago I went to Jerusalem to worship. If you ask the people, you will find this out.
12 They did not find me quarrelling with anyone in the temple. I was not making trouble among the people in the meeting houses or in the city.
13 They cannot prove the things they have said against me here.
14 But I myself tell you this. I worship the God of my fathers in the Christian way. They say this is not the right way. I believe everything that the law teaches. I believe everything that the prophets have written.
15 I believe that God will raise from death both the good people and the bad people. These people here believe the same thing.
16 I always try to do what is right to God and to men.
17 `I was away for a few years and I had come to Jerusalem to bring gifts to my people, and to give offerings.
18 While I was doing this, they found me in the temple. I had made myself clean the way the law says to do. I did not have many people around me. I was not making trouble.
19 Some Jews were there from Asia Minor. They should be here before you and talk against me if they have anything to say.
20 Or let these men here tell if they found anything wrong with me when I stood in their court.
21 I did this one thing. I shouted while I was standing among them, "I am being judged today because I believe that the dead will be raised again." '
22 Felix sent them away because he knew many things about the Christian way. He said, `When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will know everything about this matter.'
23 He said to the officer, `Keep Paul in prison but let him have some freedom. Let his friends come to visit him and to do things for him.'
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come and eat with him. So Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to eat.
37 In that city was a bad woman. When she knew that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she came and brought a bottle of oil. It was oil that smelled very sweet and cost much money.
38 She stood behind Jesus by his feet, and she was crying. She began to wash his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet and put oil on them.
39 The Pharisee who had asked Jesus to his house saw this. He said to himself, `If this man were a prophet of God, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She is a bad woman.'
40 Jesus said to him, `Simon, I have something to say to you.' And he said, `Teacher, say it.'
41 Jesus said, `There was a man who used to lend money to people. Two people owed him money. One man owed him five hundred pieces of silver money. The other owed him fifty pieces.
42 They could not pay the money, so he let them both free. Now which one of them will love him more?'
43 Simon answered, `I would say the one he let off the most.' Jesus said, `You are right.'
44 Then he turned towards the woman. He said to Simon, `Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me water to wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not kiss me. But since she came in, she has kissed my feet again and again.
46 You did not put oil on my head. But she has put sweet smelling oil on my feet.
47 So I tell you, she has done many wrong things, but she has been forgiven because she loved me so much. But one who has been forgiven a little loves me only a little'
48 Jesus said to the woman, `The wrong things you have done are forgiven.'
49 Then those who were at the table with him began to say to themselves, `Who is this man? He even forgives people for the wrong things they have done.'
50 Jesus said to the woman, `You are saved because you believed. Go in peace.'
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