Acts 24

¹Acts 24:1. Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.²Acts 24:2. When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.³Acts 24:3. In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.⁴Acts 24:4. But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.⁵Acts 24:5. We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,⁶Acts 24:6. and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.⁸Acts 24:8. By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”⁹Acts 24:9. The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.

¹⁰Acts 24:10. When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.¹¹Acts 24:11. You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.¹²Acts 24:12. Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.¹³Acts 24:13. Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.¹⁴Acts 24:14. I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,¹⁵Acts 24:15. and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.¹⁶Acts 24:16. In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.¹⁷Acts 24:17. After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.¹⁸Acts 24:18. At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia¹⁹Acts 24:19. who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.²⁰Acts 24:20. Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,²¹Acts 24:21. unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

²²Acts 24:22. Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”²³Acts 24:23. He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.²⁴Acts 24:24. After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.²⁵Acts 24:25. As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”²⁶Acts 24:26. At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.²⁷Acts 24:27. After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.