Acts 24

¹ Now after five days, Ananias, the chief priest, descended with some elders and an orator, a certain Tertullus, who inform the governor against Paul. ² Now at his being called, Tertullus begins to accuse him, saying, "Happening upon much peace through you, and reforms in this nation coming to be through your providence, ³ both in every way and everywhere, we are welcoming it, most mighty Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴ Now, lest I may be hindering you still more, I am entreating you to hear us concisely in your leniency. ⁵ For, finding this man a pestilence and stirrer of insurrections among all the Jews who are on the inhabited earth, besides a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, ⁶ who tries to profane the sanctuary also, of whom we lay hold also, ⁷ - ⁸ from whom you yourself will, by examining him, be able to recognize all of these things concerning which we are accusing him." ⁹ Now the Jews also agreed, alleging these things to have been thus. ¹⁰ Besides, Paul, the governor nodding to him to speak, answered, "Being versed in the fact that for many years you are a judge in this nation, cheerfully am I defending that which concerns myself, ¹¹ at your being able to recognize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² And they neither found me in the sanctuary arguing with anyone, or making a concourse of the throng, nor in the synagogues, nor at the city, ¹³ nor can they present evidence to you for that concerning which they are now accusing me. ¹⁴ Yet I am avowing this to you, that, according to the way which they are terming a sect, thus am I offering divine service to the hereditary God, believing all that is written, according to the law and in the prophets, ¹⁵ having an expectation in God, which these themselves also are anticipating, that there shall be a resurrection which is impending for both the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ In this, I am exerting myself also, to have a conscience which is no stumbling block toward God and men, continually. ¹⁷ Now after the lapse of more years, I came along doing alms for my nation, and bringing approach presents, ¹⁸ in which they found me, purified, in the sanctuary, not with a throng, nor with tumult. ¹⁹ Now there were some Jews from the province of Asia, on whom it was binding to be present before you and to accuse me, if they may have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these themselves say what injury they found when I stood in the Sanhedrin, ²¹ or concerning this one voice with which I cry out, standing among them, that, 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead am I judged today by you.'" ²² Now Felix made them postpone, being acquainted more exactly with that which concerns the way, saying, "Whenever captain Lysias may come down, I shall investigate your affairs." ²³ He prescribes to the centurion that he is to be kept, besides, he is to be having his ease, and to prevent no one of his own to be subservient to him." ²⁴ Now after some days, Felix, coming along with Drusilla, his wife (being a Jewess), sends after Paul and hears him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus." ²⁵ Now as he is arguing concerning righteousness, and self-control, and the impending judgment, Felix, becoming affrighted, answered, "Now go. Yet, given occasion, I shall be calling for you." ²⁶ At the same time expecting also that money will be given him by Paul. Wherefore, sending after him more frequently also, he conversed with him. ²⁷ Now, two years being fulfilled, Felix got a successor, Porcius Festus. Besides, wanting to curry favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.