1 N ow after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor 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 upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,

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 w e accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 N evertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.

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 plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the 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 even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to 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 commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,

But the tribunal Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

8 c ommanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse 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 A nd the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. The Defense Before Felix

And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

10 T hen Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,

¶ 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 b ecause you may ascertain that it is no 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 they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

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 or can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 B ut this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and 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 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of 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 his being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

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

17 “ Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,

Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings.

18 i n the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.

Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult,

19 T hey ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.

who ought to have been here before thee and object if they had anything against me.

20 O r else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,

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 is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’” Felix Procrastinates

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 when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”

¶ 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 S o he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit 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 A nd after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

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 N ow as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call 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 M eanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.

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 after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

But after two years Felix received Porcius Festus as successor; and Felix, wanting to win the grace of the Jews, left Paul bound.