Acts 24
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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.1After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor.
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 summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.
3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you.3Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude.
4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.4But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.
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.5For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
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8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.”8When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing."
9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.9The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things 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 gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, "Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.
11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.11As you can verify for yourself, not 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.12They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city,
13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.13nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing.
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.14But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is 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.15I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.16This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.
17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.17After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor 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.18which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance.
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!19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here 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,20Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council,
21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”21other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: 'I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.'"
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 understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, 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 guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting 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.24Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard 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.”25While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send 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 also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible 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, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
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Acts 23
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