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 Ananias, the prince of the priests, descended with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

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 when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great peace and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy prudence,

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 accept it always and in all places, most noble 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.

Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou would hear us of thy clemency a few words.

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 we have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world and prince of the seditious sect of the Nazarenes,

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 has gone about to profane the temple, whom we took 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 the tribunal Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away 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.

commanding his accusers to come unto thee; by examining of whom thou may take knowledge 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 assented, 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.

¶ Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself;

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

because thou art able to understand that there have been but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

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 they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither 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 prove 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 confess unto thee, that after the way which they call a sect, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in 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).

and have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the 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.

And for this reason do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men.

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

Now after many years I came to bring 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 certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult,

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

who ought to have been here before thee and object if they had 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 else let these same here say if they have found any evil doing in me, while 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!

except it be for this one voice, that I cried out standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question by you this day.

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 when Felix heard these things, he deferred them, saying, I shall have more information regarding that way, when Lysias the tribunal shall come down, Then I will know the uttermost of your matter.

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.

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his own to minister or come unto 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 when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard of him the faith which is 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 of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, Go away for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call 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.

He hoped also that money should have been given him from Paul, that he might loose him; therefore he sent for him many times 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 after two years Felix received Porcius Festus as successor; and Felix, wanting to win the grace of the Jews, left Paul bound.