Tertullus Prosecutes Paul

1And after fyue dayes, Ananias the hie priest descended, with the elders, and with a certayne oratour, named Tartullus, which appeared before the deputie agaynst Paul. 2And when Paul was called foorth, Tartullus began to accuse hym, saying: Seyng that we obtayned great quietnesse by the meanes of thee, and that many good thynges are done vnto this nation through thy prouidence, 3That alowe we euer, & in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankes. 4Notwithstandyng, that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy curtesie a fewe wordes. 5For we haue founde this man a pestilent felowe, and a mouer of debate vnto all the Iewes in the whole worlde, and a maynteyner of the sect of the Nazarites. 6And hath gone about to pollute the temple: Whom we toke, and woulde haue iudged accordyng to our lawe. 7But the hye captayne Lysias, came vpon vs, and with great violence toke hym away out of our handes, 8Commaundyng his accusers to come vnto thee: Of whom thou mayest, yf thou wilt enquire, knowe the certayntie of all these thynges, wherof we accuse hym. 9And the Iewes lykewyse affirmed, saying that these thynges were so.

Paul’s Defense to Felix

10The Paul, after that the deputie hym selfe had beckened vnto hym that he shoulde speake, aunswered: With a more quiet mynde do I aunswere for my selfe, forasmuch as I vnderstande, that thou haste ben of many yeres a iudge vnto this nation: 11Because that thou mayest knowe, that there are yet but twelue dayes, sence I went vp to Hierusalem for to worshyp. 12And they neither founde me in the temple disputyng with any man, either raysyng vp the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the citie. 13Neither can they proue the thynges wherof they accuse me. 14But this I confesse vnto thee, that after the way which they call heresie, so worship I the God of my fathers, beleuyng all thynges which are written in the lawe and the prophetes, 15And haue hope towardes God, that the resurrection of the dead which they them selues loke for also, shalbe both of the iust and vniust. 16And herein studie I, to haue alway a cleare conscience toward God, and toward men. 17Nowe after many yeres, I came and brought almes to my nation, and offerynges: 18In the which they founde me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor yet with vnquietnesse: (24:19) Howbeit, there were certayne Iewes out of Asia, 19(24:20) Which ought to be here present before thee, & accuse me, yf they had ought agaynst me: 20(24:21) Or els let these same here say, yf they haue founde any euyll doyng in me, whyle I stande here in the counsell: 21(24:22) Except it be for this one voyce, that I cryed standyng among them, of the resurrection from the dead, am I iudged of you this day.

The Verdict Postponed

22(24:23) And when Felix hearde these thynges, he deferred them, for he knewe very well of that way, and sayde: When Lysias the captayne is come downe, I will knowe the utmost of your matter. 23(24:24) And he commaunded an vnder captayne to kepe Paul, and to let hym haue rest, and that he shoulde forbyd none of his acquayntaunce to minister vnto hym, or to come vnto hym.

24(24:25) And after certayne dayes, when Felix came, with his wyfe Drusilla, which was a Iewesse, he called foorth Paul, and hearde hym of the fayth which is towarde Christe. 25(24:26) And as he reasoned of ryghteousnesse, temperaunce, and iudgement to come, Felix trembled, and aunswered: Go thy way for this tyme, when I haue a conuenient season, I will sende for thee. 26(24:27) He hoped also, that money shoulde haue ben geuen hym of Paul, that he myght loose hym: wherfore, he sent for hym the oftener, and communed with hym. 27(24:28) But after two yere, Porcius Festus came into Felix rowme: And Felix wyllyng to shewe the Iewes a pleasure, left Paul bounde.