| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. | 1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul. |
| 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. | 2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation. |
| 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. | 3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. |
| 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. | 4But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly. |
| 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. | 5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, |
| 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. | 6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. |
| 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” | 8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.” |
| 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. | 9The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true. |
| 10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. | 10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. |
| 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. | 11You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. |
| 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. | 12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city. |
| 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. | 13Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me. |
| 14“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. | 14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, |
| 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. | 15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. |
| 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. | 16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man. |
| 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. | 17After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings. |
| 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. | 18At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia |
| 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! | 19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. |
| 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, | 20Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, |
| 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” | 21unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ” |
| 22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” | 22Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.” |
| 23He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. | 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs. |
| 24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. | 24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” | 25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.” |
| 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. | 26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him. |
| 27After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. | 27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. |
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