Beginning

Paul is accused before Felix. He answers for himself.

24 After five days, Ananias, the high priest, descended with elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, and made representations to the governor concerning Paul. ² When Paul was called forth, Tertullus began the case against him, saying,

Seeing that we live in great quietness owing to you, and that many good things are done for this nation through your prudent government, ³ we receive and acknowledge it ever and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thanks. ⁴ But in order that I not be tedious to you, I pray that you would kindly hear a few words from us.

⁵ We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of conflict among all the Jews throughout the world, and a maintainer of the sect of the Nazarites, ⁶ who has also taken in hand to profane the temple. We took him, and would have judged him according to our law, ⁷ but the high captain Lysias came upon us, and with great force took him away out of our hands, ⁸ commanding his accusers to come to you. You may, if you wish to enquire, ascertain from him the facts concerning all these things of which we accuse him.

⁹ The Jews maintained likewise, saying that it was even so.

¹⁰ Then Paul (after the governor himself had indicated to him that he should speak) answered, I shall with a more quiet mind answer for myself, ¹¹ since I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this people, in order that you may know that it is yet only twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to pray, ¹² and they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone, nor inciting the people, neither in the synagogues nor in the city. ¹³ Nor can they prove the things they accuse me of.

¹⁴ But this I confess to you: that in accordance with the Way, which they call heresy, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in the law and the prophets. ¹⁵ And I have hope in God that the same resurrection of the dead that they themselves look for also will come, both of the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ And therefore I strive to have a clear conscience toward God, and toward man also.

¹⁷ But after many years I came, bringing alms and offerings to my people, ¹⁸ in the course of which they found me purified in the temple, neither with a lot of people, nor making a disturbance. However, there were certain Jews out of Asia, ¹⁹ who ought to be here present before you and accuse me if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men here say if they have found any wrongdoing in me, while I stand here in the council – ²¹ unless it be for this one statement that I made standing among them: It is concerning the resurrection from death that I am on trial before you this day.

²² When Felix heard these things, he adjourned the hearing – for he knew very well of that Way – and said, When Lysias the captain arrives, I will hear the last of your matters. ²³ And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and that he should have rest, and not to forbid any of his friends to minister to him or come to him.

²⁴ And after some time, Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, came and called for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith that is toward Christ. ²⁵ And as he preached of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, That is enough at this time; depart. When I have a convenient time, I will send for you. ²⁶ He hoped also that Paul would give him money to set him free, so he called for him often and conversed with him.

²⁷ But after two years, Festus Porcius succeeded Felix. And Felix, wanting to please the Jews, left Paul bound in prison.

The Jews accuse Paul before Festus. Paul appeals to the Emperor and is sent to Rome.

25 When Festus had arrived in the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. ² Then the high priests and the chief men of the Jews made submissions to him about Paul. And they entreated him, ³ and requested his indulgence concerning Paul, that he would send for him to come to Jerusalem. And they planned to lay wait for him along the way, to kill him.

⁴ But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, but that he himself would shortly go there. ⁵ Therefore (said he), let those among you who are able to do it come down with us, and bring your case against him there, if there be any fault in the man.

⁶ When he had been in Jerusalem more than ten days, Festus departed to Caesarea. And the next day, he sat down in the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought. ⁷ When he appeared, the Jews that had come from Jerusalem came about him and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul – which they could not prove, ⁸ as long as he answered for himself that he had not offended against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, in anything at all.

⁹ Festus, wanting to please the Jews, answered Paul and said, Will you go to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning these things? ¹⁰ Then Paul said, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no harm, as you very well know. ¹¹ If I have hurt them, or committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. If none of these things are so, of which they accuse me, no one ought to deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar!

¹² Then Festus spoke with deliberation and answered, You have appealed to Caesar: to Caesar you shall go.

¹³ After some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. ¹⁴ And when they had been there a good season, Festus described Paul’s case to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in prison by Felix, ¹⁵ against whom the high priests and elders of the Jews informed me when I went to Jerusalem, and asked to have judgment against him. ¹⁶ To whom I answered, It is not the practice of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he has his accusers before him, and has the opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge made against him. ¹⁷ When they came here, without delay I sat the next day to give judgment and commanded the man to be brought forth.

¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, ¹⁹ but had certain questions against him concerning their own superstition, and about one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. ²⁰ And because I was uncertain of such questions, I asked him if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these matters. ²¹ Then, when Paul appealed to be held for hearing by Caesar, I commanded him to be kept till I could send him to Caesar. 

²² Agrippa said to Festus, I would also like to hear the man myself.

Tomorrow (said he) you shall hear him.

²³ And the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and had entered into the council house with the high captains and chief men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth. ²⁴ And Festus said, King Agrippa, and everyone here present with us, you see this man, about whom all the Jews have been calling upon me, both at Jerusalem and also here, complaining that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ Yet I found nothing worthy of death committed by him. Nevertheless, seeing that he has appealed to Caesar, I have determined to send him. ²⁶ But I have nothing certain to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after examination I might have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the complaints that are laid against him.

King Agrippa hears Paul, who describes his calling from the beginning.

26 Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself:

² I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I may answer this day before you to all the things I am accused of by the Jews, ³ especially because you are expert in all the customs and questions that are among the Jews. Therefore I beseech you to hear me patiently.

⁴ My life from my childhood, which was at first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews ⁵ who knew me from the beginning know, if they would testify it. For in accordance with the most strict sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, ⁷ to which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to attain. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. ⁸ Why should it be thought a thing incredible to you, that God should raise the dead up again?

⁹ I also truly thought in myself that I ought to do many things to utterly oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth – ¹⁰ which things I also did in Jerusalem, where I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the high priests. And when they were put to death, I joined in giving the sentence. ¹¹ And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and was even more mad upon them, and persecuted them even to distant cities.

¹² In going about these things, as I was going to Damascus with leave and authority from the high priests, ¹³ at midday, O King, I saw in the road a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round about me and those who were journeying with me. ¹⁴ When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. ¹⁵ And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. ¹⁶ But rise and stand up on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose: to make you a minister and a witness both of those things you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, and may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

¹⁹ And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but preached first to those of Damascus, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do the right works of repentance. ²¹ Because of this, the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. ²² Nevertheless, I obtained help from God, and continue to this day witnessing both to small and to great, speaking of no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say would come: ²³ that Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first to rise from death, and would show light to the people and to the Gentiles.

²⁴ As he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad.

²⁵ And Paul said, I am not mad, most dear Festus, but speak the words of truth and soberness. ²⁶ The king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely. I do not think any of these things are hidden from him. For this was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know well that you believe.

²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, You bring me in mind somewhat to become a Christian.

²⁹ And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were not only somewhat, but altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.

³⁰ And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up with the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them. ³¹ And when they had gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds. ³² Then Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.