Old/New Testament

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.

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

²⁴ And after some days, Felix, having arrived with Drusilla^[v] 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^[w] having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor— Porcius Festus^[x]. And wishing to gain^[y] favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.