24:1 After five days the high priest Ananias 1 came down with some elders and an attorney 2 named 3 Tertullus, and they 4 brought formal charges 5 against Paul to the governor. 24:2 When Paul 6 had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, 7 saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time 8 of peace through your rule, 9 and reforms 10 are being made in this nation 11 through your foresight. 12 24:3 Most excellent Felix, 13 we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way 14 with all gratitude. 15 24:4 But so that I may not delay 16 you any further, I beg 17 you to hear us briefly 18 with your customary graciousness. 19 24:5 For we have found 20 this man to be a troublemaker, 21 one who stirs up riots 22 among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader 23 of the sect of the Nazarenes. 24 24:6 He 25 even tried to desecrate 26 the temple, so we arrested 27 him. 24:7 [[EMPTY]] 28 24:8 When you examine 29 him yourself, you will be able to learn from him 30 about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” 31 24:9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, 32 claiming 33 that these things were true.
24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know 34 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. 35 24:11 As you can verify 36 for yourself, not more than twelve days ago 37 I went up to Jerusalem 38 to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing 39 with anyone or stirring up a crowd 40 in the temple courts 41 or in the synagogues 42 or throughout the city, 43 24:13 nor can they prove 44 to you the things 45 they are accusing me of doing. 46 24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship 47 the God of our ancestors 48 according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law 49 and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have 50 a hope in God (a hope 51 that 52 these men 53 themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 54 24:16 This is the reason 55 I do my best to always 56 have a clear 57 conscience toward God and toward people. 58 24:17 After several years 59 I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor 60 and to present offerings, 61 24:18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, 62 without a crowd or a disturbance. 63 24:19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia 64 who should be here before you and bring charges, 65 if they have anything against me. 24:20 Or these men here 66 should tell what crime 67 they found me guilty of 68 when I stood before the council, 69 24:21 other than 70 this one thing 71 I shouted out while I stood before 72 them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’” 73
24:22 Then Felix, 74 who understood the facts 75 concerning the Way 76 more accurately, 77 adjourned their hearing, 78 saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.” 79 24:23 He ordered the centurion 80 to guard Paul, 81 but to let him have some freedom, 82 and not to prevent any of his friends 83 from meeting his needs. 84
24:24 Some days later, when Felix 85 arrived with his wife Drusilla, 86 who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak 87 about faith in Christ Jesus. 88 24:25 While Paul 89 was discussing 90 righteousness, self-control, 91 and the coming judgment, Felix 92 became 93 frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, 94 I will send for you.”