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Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

¹ And ^(a)after five days the high priest ^(b)Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^(c)the governor their case against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

"Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, ^(d)most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, ³ in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. ⁴ But, to detain^[a] you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, ^(e)one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^(f)the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (g)He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.^{[b] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

¹⁰ And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

"Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ You can verify that ^(h)it is not more than twelve days since I ⁽ⁱ⁾went up ^(j)to worship in Jerusalem, ¹² and ^(k)they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. ^13 (l)Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(m)the Way, which they call ⁽ⁿ⁾a sect, ^(o)I worship ^(p)the God of our fathers, believing everything ^(q)laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, ^15 (r)having ^(s)a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be ^(t)a resurrection ^(u)of both the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ So I always ^(v)take pains to have a ^(w)clear conscience toward both God and man. ¹⁷ Now ^(x)after several years ^(y)I came to bring alms to ^(z)my nation and to present ^(aa)offerings. ¹⁸ While I was doing this, they found me ^(ab)purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But ^(ac)some Jews from Asia— ^19 (ad)they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, ²¹ other than this one thing ^(ae)that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"

Paul Kept in Custody

²² But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of ^(af)the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case." ²³ Then he gave orders to the centurion that he ^(ag)should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that ^(ah)none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

²⁴ After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^(ai)faith ^(aj)in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as he reasoned ^(ak)about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. ^(al)When I get an opportunity I will summon you." ²⁶ At the same time he hoped ^(am)that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. ²⁷ When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius ^(an)Festus. And ^(ao)desiring to do the Jews a favor, ^(ap)Felix left Paul in prison.

¹ And ^(a)after five days the high priest ^(b)Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^(c)the governor their case against Paul. ² And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

"Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, ^(d)most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, ³ in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. ⁴ But, to detain^[a] you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man a plague, ^(e)one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^(f)the sect of the Nazarenes. ^6 (g)He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.^{[b] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him."

⁹ The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

¹⁰ And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

"Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ You can verify that ^(h)it is not more than twelve days since I ⁽ⁱ⁾went up ^(j)to worship in Jerusalem, ¹² and ^(k)they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. ^13 (l)Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that according to ^(m)the Way, which they call ⁽ⁿ⁾a sect, ^(o)I worship ^(p)the God of our fathers, believing everything ^(q)laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, ^15 (r)having ^(s)a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be ^(t)a resurrection ^(u)of both the just and the unjust. ¹⁶ So I always ^(v)take pains to have a ^(w)clear conscience toward both God and man. ¹⁷ Now ^(x)after several years ^(y)I came to bring alms to ^(z)my nation and to present ^(aa)offerings. ¹⁸ While I was doing this, they found me ^(ab)purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But ^(ac)some Jews from Asia— ^19 (ad)they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, ²¹ other than this one thing ^(ae)that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.'"

Paul Kept in Custody

²² But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of ^(af)the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case." ²³ Then he gave orders to the centurion that he ^(ag)should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that ^(ah)none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

²⁴ After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^(ai)faith ^(aj)in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ And as he reasoned ^(ak)about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. ^(al)When I get an opportunity I will summon you." ²⁶ At the same time he hoped ^(am)that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. ²⁷ When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius ^(an)Festus. And ^(ao)desiring to do the Jews a favor, ^(ap)Felix left Paul in prison.