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.

And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.

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,

And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,

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

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

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.

But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.

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.

For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

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,

who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;

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

but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took away with great force out of our hands,

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.

having commanded his accusers to come to thee;] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining, know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.

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

And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against, saying that these things were so.

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.

But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.

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

As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,

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.

and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

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

neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.

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;

But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers' God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;

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).

having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.

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

For this cause I also exercise to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.

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

And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.

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,

Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,

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

who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;

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),

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

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!

than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching resurrection of dead.

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.

And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;

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.

ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.

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.

And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

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.

And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;

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.

hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.

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.

But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.