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 chief priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator -- Tertullus, and they made manifest to 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 he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, `Much peace enjoying through thee, and worthy deeds being done to this nation through 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.

always, also, and everywhere we receive it, 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.

and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;

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 having found this man a pestilence, and moving a dissension to all the Jews through the world -- a ringleader also of the 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 the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,

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

and Lysias the chief captain having come near, with much violence, out of our hands did take away,

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, from whom thou mayest be able, thyself having examined, to know concerning 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 agreed, professing these things to be 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.

And Paul answered -- the governor having beckoned to him to speak -- `Knowing for many years thou hast been a judge to this nation, the more cheerfully the things concerning myself I do answer;

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

thou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in 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 reasoning with any one, or making a dissension of the multitude, 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.

nor are they able to prove against me the things concerning 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;

`And I confess this to thee, that, according to the way that they call a sect, so serve I the God of the fathers, believing all things that in the law and the prophets have been written,

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 toward God, which they themselves also wait for, there is about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;

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 in this I do exercise myself, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.

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

`And after many years I came, about to do kind acts 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,

in which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not 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.

whom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, 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 let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

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 concerning this one voice, in which I cried, standing among them -- Concerning a rising again of the dead I am judged to-day by you.'

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 having heard these things, Felix delayed them -- having known more exactly of the things concerning the way -- saying, `When Lysias the chief captain may come down, I will know fully the things concerning you;'

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.

having given also a direction to the centurion to keep Paul, to let also have liberty, and to forbid none of his own friends to minister or to come near 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 come with Drusilla his wife, being a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith toward 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 he reasoning concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment that is about to be, Felix, having become afraid, answered, `For the present be going, and having got time, 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.

and at the same time also hoping that money shall be given to him by Paul, that he may release him, therefore, also sending for him the oftener, he was conversing 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.

and two years having been fulfilled, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus; Felix also willing to lay a favour on the Jews, left Paul bound.