Book of Common Prayer
Paul Is Accused Before Felix The Roman Governor By The High Priest And Others
24 And after five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney[a], a certain Tertullus— who[b] brought-charges against Paul to the governor. 2 And he[c] having been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Attaining much[d] peace through you, and reforms taking place for this nation through your foresight 3 both[e] in every way and everywhere— we welcome it, most-excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But in order that I may not hinder you further, I beg you to hear us briefly, by your kindness. 5 For having found this man to be a plague[f], and setting-in-motion disputes[g] among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6 who even tried to profane[h] the temple, whom also we seized—[i] 7 [j] 8 from whom you yourself, having examined him, will be able to learn about all these things of which we are accusing him”. 9 And the Jews also joined-in-the-attack, asserting that these things hold so.
Paul Defends Himself Against Their Charges
10 And Paul responded, the governor having nodded to him to speak, “Knowing-about you being a judge[k] to this nation for many years, I cheerfully speak-a-defense as to the things concerning myself— 11 you being able to learn that it is not more than twelve days from which day I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 And neither in the temple did they find me arguing with anyone or causing an onset of a crowd— nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city! 13 Nor are they able to prove to you the things concerning which they now are accusing me. 14 But I confess this to you— that according to the Way which they call a sect, thus I am worshiping[l] the God of my ancestor[m], believing all the things in accordance with the Law, and the things having been written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God which these ones themselves also are waiting-for[n]— that there will-certainly be a resurrection of both righteous ones and unrighteous ones. 16 In this[o] indeed I am striving to have a blameless conscience toward God and people continually. 17 Now after many years I came to do acts-of-almsgiving[p] for my nation, and offerings, 18 during which they found me in the temple, having been purified[q]— not with a crowd, nor with a commotion. 19 But there were some Jews from Asia— who ought-to-have been present before you and accusing me, if they have something against me. 20 Or let these ones themselves say what crime they found, I having stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 other-than concerning this one shout which I cried-out while standing among them, that ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead’”.
Felix Adjourns The Hearing, But Keeps Paul In Relaxed Custody
22 And Felix adjourned[r] them, knowing more-accurately the things concerning the Way, having said, “Whenever Lysias the commander comes down, I will determine[s] the things concerning you[t] people”, 23 having given-orders to the centurion that he be kept [in custody] and that he have a relaxation[u] [of custody] and that they forbid none of his own people to serve him.
A Scribe Asks, Which Is The Foremost Commandment?
28 And having come to Him, one of the scribes— having heard them debating, having seen that He answered them well— asked Him, “Which is the foremost[a] commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered that “Foremost is: ‘Hear, Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength’ [Deut 6:4-5]. 31 Second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ [Lev 19:18]. There is not another commandment greater than these”. 32 And the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher! In accordance with [God’s] truth, You said[b] that He is one. And there is not another except Him. 33 And the statement ‘to love Him from the whole heart, and from the whole understanding, and from the whole strength’, and the statement ‘to love the neighbor as himself’, are more [important] than all the whole-burnt-offerings and sacrifices”. 34 And Jesus, having looked-at him because he responded thoughtfully, said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God”.
Jesus Asks How The Messiah Can Be The Son of David Since David Calls Him His Lord
And no one was daring to question Him any more.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing