Book of Common Prayer

Paul Frequently Speaks To Felix, Who Hopes To Get Money From Paul

²⁴ And after some days, Felix, having arrived with Drusilla^[a] his own wife (she being a Jew), sent for Paul and listened-to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ But while he was speaking about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgment, Felix, having become afraid, responded, “As to the present, go. And having received an opportunity, I will summon you”— ²⁶ at the same time also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore indeed, sending for him very-frequently, he was conversing with him.

Two Years Later, Paul Is Accused Before The New Governor, Festus

²⁷ Now two years^[b] having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor— Porcius Festus^[c]. And wishing to gain^[d] favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. 25 ¹ So Festus, having set-foot in the province, went up after three days to Jerusalem from Caesarea. ² And the chief priests and the leading ones of the Jews brought-charges to him against Paul. And they were appealing-to him, ³ asking-for a favor against him, so that he might summon him to Jerusalem— while making an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴ Then indeed Festus responded that Paul was being kept in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to be proceeding-out [of Jerusalem] shortly. ⁵ “So”, he says, “the powerful ones among you having gone-down-with me— if there is something out-of-place in the man, let them be accusing him there”. ⁶ And having spent days among them (not more than eight or ten), having come down to Caesarea, having sat on the judgment-seat on the next day, he ordered that Paul be brought.

When Festus Suggests a Trial In Jerusalem, Paul Appeals To Caesar

⁷ And he having arrived, the Jews having come down from Jerusalem stood around him bringing many and weighty charges against him, which they were not able to prove— ⁸ Paul speaking-in-defense that “Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, did I sin anything”. ⁹ But Festus, wishing to gain favor with the Jews, having responded to Paul, said, “Are you willing, having gone up to Jerusalem, to be judged there before me concerning these things?” ¹⁰ And Paul said, “I am standing here before the judgment-seat of Caesar, where I ought-to be judged. I did the Jews no wrong, as you also are knowing very well. ¹¹ So if I am doing wrong^[e] and have committed something worthy of death, I am not refusing to die. But if the things of which these ones are accusing me are nothing, no one is able^[f] to freely-give me to them. I appeal-to Caesar^[g]”. ¹² Then Festus, having talked-with his council, responded, “You have appealed-to Caesar— you will go before Caesar”.

³⁵ And having responded, Jesus was saying while teaching in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself said by the Holy Spirit [in Ps 110:1], ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Be sitting on My right side until I put Your enemies under Your feet”’. ³⁷ David himself calls Him ‘Lord’. And in what^[a] way is He his son?”

Jesus Warns The Crowds To Beware of The Scribes

And the large crowd was listening-to Him with-pleasure. ³⁸ And in His teaching He was saying, “Beware of the scribes— the ones delighting to walk around in robes, and to receive greetings in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and seats-of-honor in the synagogues, and places-of-honor at the banquets. ⁴⁰ They are the ones devouring^[b] the houses of the widows, and praying long for a pretense^[c]. These ones will receive greater condemnation”.

Jesus Uses The Widow’s Offering To Illustrate True Giving

⁴¹ And having sat-down opposite the treasury^[d], He was observing how the crowd throws money into the treasury. And many rich ones were throwing much money. ⁴² And one poor widow having come threw two leptos^[e], which is a quadrans^[f]. ⁴³ And having summoned His disciples, He said to them, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow threw more than all the ones throwing into the treasury. ⁴⁴ For they all threw out of the money abounding^[g] to them. But this one, out of her need^[h], threw all that she was having— her whole living^[i]”.