1 F ive days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain forensic advocate Tertullus. They presented to the governor their evidence against Paul.

Cinco dias depois o sumo sacerdote Ananias desceu com alguns anciãos e um certo Tertulo, orador, os quais fizeram, perante o governador, queixa contra Paulo.

2 A nd when he was called, Tertullus began the complaint by saying: Since through you we obtain and enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight and provision wonderful reforms (amendments and improvements) are introduced and effected on behalf of this nation,

Sendo este chamado, Tertulo começou a acusá-lo, dizendo: Visto que por ti gozamos de muita paz e por tua providência são continuamente feitas reformas nesta nação,

3 I n every way and in every place, most excellent Felix, we accept and acknowledge this with deep appreciation and with all gratitude.

em tudo e em todo lugar reconhecemo-lo com toda a gratidão, ó excelentíssimo Félix.

4 B ut not to hinder or detain you too long, I beg you in your clemency and courtesy and kindness to grant us a brief and concise hearing.

Mas, para que não te detenha muito rogo-te que, conforme a tua eqüidade, nos ouças por um momento.

5 F or we have found this man a perfect pest (a real plague), an agitator and source of disturbance to all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the '> division-producing] sect of the Nazarenes.

Temos achado que este homem é uma peste, e promotor de sedições entre todos os judeus, por todo o mundo, e chefe da seita dos nazarenos;

6 H e also tried to desecrate and defile the temple, but we laid hands on him and would have sentenced him by our Law,

o qual tentou profanar o templo; e nós o prendemos, [e conforme a nossa lei o quisemos julgar.

7 B ut the commandant Lysias came and took him from us with violence and force,

Mas sobrevindo o comandante Lísias no-lo tirou dentre as mãos com grande violência, mandando aos acusadores que viessem a ti.]

8 A nd ordered his accusers to present themselves to you. By examining and cross-questioning him yourself, you will be able to ascertain the truth from him about all these things with which we charge him.

e tu mesmo, examinando-o, poderás certificar-te de tudo aquilo de que nós o acusamos.

9 T he Jews also agreed and joined in the accusation, declaring that all these things were exactly so.

Os judeus também concordam na acusação, afirmando que estas coisas eram assim.

10 A nd when the governor had beckoned to Paul to speak, he answered: Because I know that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I find it easier to make my defense and do it cheerfully and with good courage.

Paulo, tendo-lhe o governador feito sinal que falasse, respondeu: Porquanto sei que há muitos anos és juiz sobre esta nação, com bom ânimo faço a minha defesa,

11 A s you can readily verify, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship;

pois bem podes verificar que não há mais de doze dias subi a Jerusalém para adorar,

12 A nd neither in the temple nor in the synagogues nor in the city did they find me disputing with anybody or bringing together a seditious crowd.

e que não me acharam no templo discutindo com alguém nem amotinando o povo, quer nas sinagogas quer na cidade.

13 N either can they present argument or evidence to prove to you what they now bring against me.

Nem te podem provar as coisas de que agora me acusam.

14 B ut this I confess to you, however, that in accordance with the Way, which they call a sect, I worship (serve) the God of our fathers, still persuaded of the truth of and believing in and placing full confidence in everything laid down in the Law or written in the prophets;

Mas confesso-te isto: que, seguindo o caminho a que eles chamam seita, assim sirvo ao Deus de nossos pais, crendo tudo quanto está escrito na lei e nos profetas,

15 H aving hope in God which these themselves hold and look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous (the just and the unjust).

tendo esperança em Deus, como estes mesmos também esperam, de que há de haver ressurreição tanto dos justos como dos injustos.

16 T herefore I always exercise and discipline myself to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.

Por isso procuro sempre ter uma consciência sem ofensas diante de Deus e dos homens.

17 N ow after several years I came up to bring to my people contributions of charity and offerings.

Vários anos depois vim trazer ã minha nação esmolas e fazer oferendas;

18 W hile I was engaged in presenting these, they found me in the temple, without any crowd or uproar. But some Jews from Asia,

e ocupado nestas coisas me acharam já santificado no templo não em ajuntamento, nem com tumulto, alguns judeus da Ásia,

19 W ho ought to be here before you and to present their charges, if they have anything against me.

os quais deviam comparecer diante de ti e acusar-me se tivessem alguma coisa contra mim;

20 O r else let these men themselves tell of what crime or wrongdoing they found me guilty when I appeared before the council (Sanhedrin),

ou estes mesmos digam que iniquidade acharam, quando compareci perante o sinédrio,

21 U nless it be this one sentence which I cried out as I stood among them, In regard to the resurrection of the dead I am indicted and on trial before you this day!

a não ser acerca desta única palavra que, estando no meio deles, bradei: Por causa da ressurreição dos mortos é que hoje estou sendo julgado por vós.

22 B ut Felix, having a rather accurate understanding of the Way, put them off and adjourned the trial, saying, When Lysias the commandant comes down, I will determine your case more fully.

Félix, porém, que era bem informado a respeito do Caminho, adiou a questão, dizendo: Quando o comandante Lísias tiver descido, então tomarei inteiro conhecimento da vossa causa.

23 T hen he ordered the centurion to keep in custody, but to treat him with indulgence and not to hinder his friends from ministering to his needs and serving him.

E ordenou ao centurião que Paulo ficasse detido, mas fosse tratado com brandura e que a nenhum dos seus proibisse servi-lo.

24 S ome days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess; and he sent for Paul and listened to him about faith in Christ Jesus.

Alguns dias depois, vindo Félix com sua mulher Drusila, que era judia, mandou chamar a Paulo, e ouviu-o acerca da fé em Cristo Jesus.

25 B ut as he continued to argue about uprightness, purity of life (the control of the passions), and the judgment to come, Felix became alarmed and terrified and said, Go away for the present; when I have a convenient opportunity, I will send for you.

E discorrendo ele sobre a justiça, o domínio próprio e o juízo vindouro, Félix ficou atemorizado e respondeu: Por ora vai-te, e quando tiver ocasião favorável, eu te chamarei.

26 A t the same time he hoped to get money from Paul, for which reason he continued to send for him and was in his company and conversed with him often.

Esperava ao mesmo tempo que Paulo lhe desse dinheiro, pelo que o mandava chamar mais freqüentemente e conversava com ele.

27 B ut when two years had gone by, Felix was succeeded in office by Porcius Festus; and wishing to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul still a prisoner in chains.

Mas passados dois anos, teve Félix por sucessor a Pórcio Festo; e querendo Félix agradar aos judeus, deixou a Paulo preso.