Acts.24.1

Within five days, the Chief Priest Ananias arrived with a contingent of leaders, along with Tertullus, a trial lawyer. They presented the governor with their case against Paul.

Acts.24.1

Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.

Acts.24.1

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.

Acts.24.1

Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish leaders and the lawyer Tertullus, to press charges against Paul.

Acts.24.2

When Paul was called before the court, Tertullus spoke for the prosecution: "Most Honorable Felix, we are most grateful in all times and places for your wise and gentle rule.

Acts.24.2

When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation.

Acts.24.2

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,

Acts.24.2

When Paul was called in, Tertullus laid charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: "Your Excellency, you have given peace to us Jews and have enacted reforms for us.

Acts.24.3

We are much aware that it is because of you and you alone that we enjoy all this peace and gain daily profit from your reforms.

Acts.24.3

Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude.

Acts.24.3

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

Acts.24.3

And for all of this we are very grateful to you.

Acts.24.4

I'm not going to tire you out with a long speech. I beg your kind indulgence in listening to me. I'll be quite brief.

Acts.24.4

But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

Acts.24.4

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

Acts.24.4

But lest I bore you, kindly give me your attention for only a moment as I briefly outline our case against this man.

Acts.24.5

"We've found this man time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world, the ringleader of a seditious sect called Nazarenes.

Acts.24.5

"We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect

Acts.24.5

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.

Acts.24.5

For we have found him to be a troublemaker, a man who is constantly inciting the Jews throughout the world to riots and rebellions against the Roman government. He is a ringleader of the sect known as the Nazarenes.

Acts.24.6

He's a real bad apple, I must say. We caught him trying to defile our holy Temple and arrested him.

Acts.24.6

and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

Acts.24.6

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

Acts.24.6

Moreover he was trying to defile the Temple when we arrested him.

Acts.24.7

You'll be able to verify all these accusations when you examine him yourself."

Acts.24.7

See Footnote

Acts.24.7

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

Acts.24.7

See Footnote

Acts.24.8

The Jews joined in: "Hear, hear! That's right!"

Acts.24.8

By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him."

Acts.24.8

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

Acts.24.8

You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."

Acts.24.9

The governor motioned to Paul that it was now his turn. Paul said, "I count myself fortunate to be defending myself before you, Governor, knowing how fair-minded you've been in judging us all these years.

Acts.24.9

The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.

Acts.24.9

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

Acts.24.9

Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

Acts.24.10

I've been back in the country only twelve days--you can check out these dates easily enough. I came with the express purpose of worshiping in Jerusalem on Pentecost, and I've been minding my own business the whole time.

Acts.24.10

When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.

Acts.24.10

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,

Acts.24.10

Now it was Paul's turn. The governor motioned for him to rise and speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, and this gives me confidence as I make my defense.

Acts.24.11

Nobody can say they saw me arguing in the Temple or working up a crowd in the streets.

Acts.24.11

You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

Acts.24.11

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

Acts.24.11

You can quickly discover that it was no more than twelve days ago that I arrived in Jerusalem to worship at the Temple.

Acts.24.12

Not one of their charges can be backed up with evidence or witnesses.

Acts.24.12

My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.

Acts.24.12

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

Acts.24.12

I didn't argue with anyone in the Temple, nor did I incite a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.

Acts.24.13

"But I do freely admit this: In regard to the Way, which they malign as a dead-end street, I serve and worship the very same God served and worshiped by all our ancestors and embrace everything written in all our Scriptures.

Acts.24.13

And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.

Acts.24.13

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

Acts.24.13

These men certainly cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

Acts.24.14

And I admit to living in hopeful anticipation that God will raise the dead, both the good and the bad. If that's my crime, my accusers are just as guilty as I am.

Acts.24.14

However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,

Acts.24.14

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.

Acts.24.14

"But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a sect. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the books of prophecy.

Acts.24.15

"Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do.

Acts.24.15

and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

Acts.24.15

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.

Acts.24.15

I have hope in God, just as these men do, that he will raise both the righteous and the ungodly.

Acts.24.16

I've been out of the country for a number of years and now I'm back. While I was away, I took up a collection for the poor and brought that with me, along with offerings for the Temple.

Acts.24.16

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Acts.24.16

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

Acts.24.16

Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and everyone else.

Acts.24.17

It was while making those offerings that they found me quietly at my prayers in the Temple. There was no crowd, there was no disturbance.

Acts.24.17

"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.

Acts.24.17

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

Acts.24.17

"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.

Acts.24.18

It was some Jews from around Ephesus who started all this trouble. And you'll notice they're not here today. They're cowards, too cowardly to accuse me in front of you.

Acts.24.18

I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.

Acts.24.18

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

Acts.24.18

My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ritual. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.

Acts.24.19

"So ask these others what crime they've caught me in. Don't let them hide behind this smooth-talking Tertullus.

Acts.24.19

But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.

Acts.24.19

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

Acts.24.19

But some Jews from the province of Asia were there--and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!

Acts.24.20

The only thing they have on me is that one sentence I shouted out in the council: "It's because I believe in the resurrection that I've been hauled into this court!' Does that sound to you like grounds for a criminal case?"

Acts.24.20

Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin--

Acts.24.20

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

Acts.24.20

Ask these men here what wrongdoing the Jewish high council found in me,

Acts.24.21

Felix shilly-shallied. He knew far more about the Way than he let on, and could have settled the case then and there. But uncertain of his best move politically, he played for time. "When Captain Lysias comes down, I'll decide your case."

Acts.24.21

unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"

Acts.24.21

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."'

Acts.24.21

except for one thing I said when I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"

Acts.24.22

He gave orders to the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to more or less give him the run of the place and not prevent his friends from helping him.

Acts.24.22

Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case."

Acts.24.22

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."

Acts.24.22

Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, "Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case."

Acts.24.23

A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ.

Acts.24.23

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Acts.24.23

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.

Acts.24.23

He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

Acts.24.24

As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. "That's enough for today. I'll call you back when it's convenient."

Acts.24.24

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts.24.24

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.

Acts.24.24

A few days later Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts.24.25

At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently.

Acts.24.25

As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

Acts.24.25

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."

Acts.24.25

As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified. "Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."

Acts.24.26

After two years of this, Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. Still playing up to the Jews and ignoring justice, Felix left Paul in prison.

Acts.24.26

At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Acts.24.26

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.

Acts.24.26

He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

Acts.24.27

When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Acts.24.27

When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Acts.24.27

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

Acts.24.27

Two years went by in this way; then Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison.