Acts 24

Tertullus accuses Paul

Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. ²When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.

⁴But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. ⁵“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

⁷By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” ⁸The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. ⁹When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.

Paul answers Felix

¹⁰You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹¹My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹²And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.

¹³However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, ¹⁴and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁵So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.a

¹⁶“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.b ¹⁷I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁸But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.

¹⁹Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²⁰unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’” ²¹Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.”

Two years in custody

²²He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. ²³Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁴As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁵At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.c

²⁶When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.