Acts 24

1 And after five days the chief priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus; and they laid their charge against Paul before the governor. 2 And when he had been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since we enjoy much peace through you, and since reforms are coming to this nation through your foresight, 3 in every way and everywhere we welcome it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But so as not to detain you further, I beg you to hear us briefly in your kindness. 5 For we have found this man a plague, and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazoreans, [a] † 6 who even tried to treat the temple as common — and we seized him. [b] 8 From him you will be able yourself, by examining him, to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.” 9 And the Jews joined in the attack as well, asserting that these things were so.

10 And Paul answered, when the governor nodded to him to speak: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge for this nation, I make my defense about my own case cheerfully, 11 since you are able to learn that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to bow down in Jerusalem. [d] 12 And they did not find me in the temple arguing with anyone, or gathering a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor about the city; 13 nor can they prove to you the things of which they are now accusing me.

14 “But I acknowledge this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I so serve the God of my fathers, trusting everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets, 15 having a hope toward God — which these men themselves also accept — that there is to be a resurrection of both righteous and unrighteous. 16 In this I too train myself to have always a conscience that gives no offense toward God and toward men.

17 “And after many years I came to bring acts of mercy to my nation, and offerings; [e] 18 and in the course of these they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd and not with an uproar — [f] 19 but there were some Jews from Asia, who ought to be here before you and to accuse me, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men themselves say what wrong they found when I stood before the council, 21 other than this one cry that I cried out standing among them: ‘It is about a resurrection of the dead that I am being judged today before you.’”

22 But Felix put them off, knowing the things about the Way more exactly, and said, “When Lysias the commander of a thousand comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 And he gave orders to the commander of a hundred that Paul be kept, and have some liberty, and that none of his own people be prevented from serving him.

24 And after some days Felix came with Drusilla his own wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him about trust in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he was reasoning about righteousness and self-control and the judgment that is coming, Felix became frightened and answered, “Go away for the present; when I get an opportunity I will call you back.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given him by Paul; and so he sent for him more often and talked with him. 27 And when two years were completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as his successor; and wanting to lay up a favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound. [g]