Paul before Felix
24 After (A)five days the high priest (B)Ananias came down with some elders, [a]with an [b]attorney named Tertullus, and they [c]brought charges to (C)the governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor,
“Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, (D)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you [d]to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout [e]the world, and a ringleader of the (E)sect of the Nazarenes. 6 And he even tried to (F)desecrate the temple; and [f]then we arrested him. [[g]We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 (G)The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
10 When (H)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:
“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than (I)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 (J)Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or (K)causing [h]a riot. 13 (L)Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I admit to you, that according to (M)the Way which they call a (N)sect I do serve [i](O)the God of our fathers, (P)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which (Q)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 In view of this, (R)I also [j]do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 Now (S)after several years I (T)came to bring [k]alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been (U)purified, without any (V)crowd or uproar. But there were some (W)Jews from [l]Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to (X)make accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before (Y)the [m]Council, 21 other than for this one statement which (Z)I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”
22 But Felix, [n]having a more exact knowledge about (AA)the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the [o]commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be (AB)kept in custody and yet (AC)have some freedom, and not to prevent any of (AD)his friends from ministering to him.
24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his [p]wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about (AE)faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing (AF)righteousness, (AG)self-control and (AH)the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that (AI)money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix [q]was succeeded by Porcius (AJ)Festus, and (AK)wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul (AL)imprisoned.
Footnotes
- Acts 24:1 Lit and
- Acts 24:1 Lit orator
- Acts 24:1 Or presented their evidence or case
- Acts 24:4 Lit to hear...briefly
- Acts 24:5 Lit the inhabited earth
- Acts 24:6 Lit also
- Acts 24:6 The early mss do not contain the remainder of v 6, v 7, nor the first part of v 8
- Acts 24:12 Lit an attack of a mob
- Acts 24:14 Lit the ancestral God
- Acts 24:16 Lit practice myself
- Acts 24:17 Or gifts to charity
- Acts 24:18 I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor
- Acts 24:20 Or Sanhedrin
- Acts 24:22 Lit knowing more accurately
- Acts 24:22 I.e. chiliarch, in command of one thousand troops
- Acts 24:24 Lit own wife
- Acts 24:27 Lit received a successor, Porcius Festus
Cross references
- Acts 24:1 : Acts 24:11
- Acts 24:1 : Acts 23:2
- Acts 24:1 : Acts 23:24
- Acts 24:3 : Acts 23:26; 26:25
- Acts 24:5 : Acts 15:5; 24:14
- Acts 24:6 : Acts 21:28
- Acts 24:9 : 1 Thess 2:16
- Acts 24:10 : Acts 23:24
- Acts 24:11 : Acts 21:18, 27; 24:1
- Acts 24:12 : Acts 25:8
- Acts 24:12 : Acts 24:18
- Acts 24:13 : Acts 25:7
- Acts 24:14 : Acts 9:2; 24:22
- Acts 24:14 : Acts 15:5; 24:5
- Acts 24:14 : Acts 3:13
- Acts 24:14 : Acts 25:8; 26:4ff, 22f; 28:23
- Acts 24:15 : Dan 12:2; John 5:28f; 11:24; Acts 23:6
- Acts 24:16 : Acts 23:1
- Acts 24:17 : Acts 20:31
- Acts 24:17 : Acts 11:29f; Rom 15:25-28; 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8:1-4; 9:1, 2, 12; Gal 2:10
- Acts 24:18 : Acts 21:26
- Acts 24:18 : Acts 24:12
- Acts 24:18 : Acts 21:27
- Acts 24:19 : Acts 23:30
- Acts 24:20 : Matt 5:22
- Acts 24:21 : Acts 23:6; 24:15
- Acts 24:22 : Acts 24:14
- Acts 24:23 : Acts 23:35
- Acts 24:23 : Acts 28:16
- Acts 24:23 : Acts 23:16; 27:3
- Acts 24:24 : Acts 20:21
- Acts 24:25 : Titus 2:12
- Acts 24:25 : Gal 5:23; Titus 1:8; 2 Pet 1:6
- Acts 24:25 : Acts 10:42
- Acts 24:26 : Acts 24:17
- Acts 24:27 : Acts 25:1, 4, 9, 12; 26:24f, 32
- Acts 24:27 : Acts 12:3; 25:9
- Acts 24:27 : Acts 23:35; 25:14