1 A nd 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;

Five 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.

2 a nd 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,

They 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.

3 a lways, also, and everywhere we receive it, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness;

In every way and in every place, we thank you for all of this.

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

We 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.

5 f or 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 --

We 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.

6 w ho also the temple did try to profane, whom also we took, and according to our law did wish to judge,

He 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.

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

But Lysias, the captain, came and took him out of our hands.

8 h aving 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;'

He 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.”

9 a nd the Jews also agreed, professing these things to be so.

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

10 A nd 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;

Then 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.

11 t hou being able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,

Not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. You can find out about this yourself.

12 a nd 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;

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.

13 n or are they able to prove against me the things concerning which they now accuse me.

They cannot prove any of these things they say against me.

14 ` 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,

“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.

15 h aving 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;

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.

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

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

17 ` And after many years I came, about to do kind acts to my nation, and offerings,

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

18 i n which certain Jews from Asia did find me purified in the temple, not with multitude, nor with tumult,

Some 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.

19 w hom it behoveth to be present before thee, and to accuse, if they had anything against me,

They should be here if they have anything against me.

20 o r let these same say if they found any unrighteousness in me in my standing before the sanhedrim,

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

21 e xcept 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.'

unless 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

22 A nd 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;'

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

23 h aving 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.

He 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

24 A nd 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,

Some 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.

25 a nd 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;'

Paul 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.”

26 a nd 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;

He 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.

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

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