Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

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.'