Chapter 24

Now five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and one Tertullus, an attorney; and they presented their case against Paul before the governor.

When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Whereas we live in much peace through thee, and whereas many reforms are in progress by thy foresight,

we always and everywhere receive them, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

But not to detain thee too long, I entreat thee to be kind enough to grant us a brief hearing.

We have found this man a pest, and a promoter of seditions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sedition of the Nazarene sect.

He even tried to desecrate the temple, but we caught him and wished to judge him according to our Law.

But Lysias, the tribune, came upon us and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

ordering his accusers to come to thee. By examining him thyself, thou wilt be able to discover all these things we charge him with."

And the Jews also supported the charge, saying that this was so. The Defense

Then when the governor nodded to him to speak, Paul answered, "As I know that for many years thou hast been a judge for this nation, I shall answer for myself with good courage.

For thou canst take as certain that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem;

and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with anyone or creating a disturbance among the people, nor in the synagogue, nor about the city;

neither can they prove to thee the charges that they now make against me.

But this I admit to thee, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of my fathers; believing all things that are written in the Law and the Prophets,

having a hope in God which these men themselves also look for, that there is to be a resurrection of the just and the unjust;

and in this I too strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men.

"Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifice and fulfill vows;

in which they found me engaged in the temple, after having been purified, with no crowd or disturbance at all.

But there were some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to have been here before thee and to have presented their charges, if they had any, against me;

or else let these men themselves say what they found wrong in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

unless it be for the one thing I shouted out as I stood among them, 'It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged by you this day. '" The Prisoner

Felix, however, having precise information about the Way, adjourned the trial, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case."

And he instructed the centurion to keep Paul in custody but to allow him some liberty, and not to prevent any of his friends from looking after him.

Now some days later, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard what he had to say about the faith in Christ Jesus.

But as he talked of justice and chastity and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and answered, "For the present go thy way; but when I get an opportunity, I will send for thee."

At the same time he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul, and for this reason he would send for him often and talk with him.

But after two years Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and as he wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.