1 F ive days later Ananias came to the city of Caesarea. He was the head religious leader. Some other religious leaders and a man whose name was Tertullus came also. This man worked in courts and knew all about the laws. He told Felix what the Jews had against Paul.

Now 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.

2 T hey brought in Paul. Then Tertullus started to tell what the Jews had against him, saying, “Most respected Felix, because of you, we are living in peace. Wrong-doings have been made right in this nation.

And 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,

3 I n every way and in every place, we thank you for all of this.

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

4 W e do not want to keep you here too long. I ask you to listen to our few words. You are known to be kind in this way.

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

5 W e have found this man to be a trouble-maker among all the Jews in the world. He is a leader of a religious group called the Nazarenes.

For 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.

6 H e even tried to make the house of God unclean by taking people into it who were not Jews. But we took hold of him. (We could have said he was guilty by our Law.

He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.

7 B ut Lysias, the captain, came and took him out of our hands.

But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,

8 H e told those who wanted to kill him to tell you what they had against him.) When you ask him about these things, you will be able to learn everything we have against him.”

commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”

9 T he Jews agreed to what he said against Paul. Paul Speaks for Himself the First Time

And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. The Defense Before Felix

10 T hen Felix, the leader of the people, told Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know that you have been a leader of this nation for many years. I am happy to be able to speak for myself.

Then 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,

11 N ot more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can find out about this yourself.

because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 I did not argue with anyone in the house of God or in the Jewish places of worship or in the city. I was not making trouble.

And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.

13 T hey cannot prove any of these things they say against me.

Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.

14 “ I will say this, I worship the God of our fathers in the new Way. They say it is a false way. But I believe everything that has been written in the Law and by the early preachers.

But 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.

15 I trust God for the same things they are looking for. I am looking for the dead to rise, both those right with God and the sinful.

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.

16 I always try to live so my own heart tells me I am not guilty before God or man.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 “ After a few years I came to bring gifts of money to the people of my country (Jerusalem).

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

18 S ome Jews from the countries of Asia found me in the house of God after I had gone through the worship of washing. There were no people around me and there was no noise or fighting.

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

19 T hey should be here if they have anything against me.

They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.

20 O r let these men tell what wrong they found in me as I stood in front of their court,

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

21 u nless it was the words I cried out as I stood in front of them. I said, ‘I have been brought in front of this court because of the hope of being raised from the dead.’” Felix Waits for Lysias to Come

unless 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

22 F elix knew about the Christian religion. He stopped the court, saying, “When Lysias the captain comes down, I will decide about this.”

But 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.”

23 H e told the soldier to watch Paul, but to let him come and go as much as he wanted to. Paul’s friends were to be able to come and care for him. Paul Speaks for Himself the Second Time

So 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.

24 S ome days later Felix came again. His Jewish wife Drusilla was with him. He sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.

And 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.

25 P aul spoke about being right with God. He spoke about being the boss over our own desires. He spoke about standing before One Who will tell us if we are guilty. When Felix heard this, he became afraid and said, “Go now. I will send for you when it is a better time.”

Now 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.”

26 H e was hoping that Paul would give him money so he could go free. For that reason he kept sending for Paul and talking to him.

Meanwhile 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.

27 A fter two years Porcius Festus became leader of the people instead of Felix. Felix wanted to please the Jews so he kept Paul in prison.

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