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¹ About five days later, Ananias, the high priest, showed up with some bigwigs and a hot-shot trial lawyer named, Tertullus. They were ready to present their case against Paul. ² When Paul got to the courtroom, Tertullus presented the charges in a highfalutin address.

He said to the governor, "You've treated us with honor and respect your Excellency. You have led us with wisdom and great foresight. ³ We are humbled by your prowess in government. ⁴ But I will make this short because I know you are a busy man and have better things to do. ⁵ This guy we charge before you is nothing but a troublemaker. Everywhere he goes, all over the world in fact, he leaves a wake of discontent within the Jewish cities. He is one of the jigger bosses in a cult of no-accounts subversives called the Nazarenes. ⁶ We barely managed to catch him this time before he desecrated our most holy place, the main church.

Note: The earliest manuscripts do not have verse 7.

⁸ "You'll quickly come to find upon examining him that all we've said is the absolute truth." ⁹ All across the courtroom, cheers and jeers filled the air attesting to the truth of what Tertullus had said.

¹⁰ The governor raised an eyebrow and motioned for Paul to rise and speak. Paul said, "Your reputation precedes you, sir. I asked to come here and present my case to you because I know for a fact you have been impartial in Jewish affairs before. ¹¹ It is no secret I arrived in Jerusalem about twelve days ago. I merely went to the main church to worship as I have done my whole life. ¹² These people talk about facts, but none of them can produce a shred of evidence that I was inciting a riot or riling anyone up. I didn't do anything wrong in a church building or even a street corner. ¹³ They have nothing but words as proof of their accusations."

¹⁴ Paul continued, "But I stand here today and tell you plainly that I am a cowboy riding for the Way. They call it a cult, but it is the furthest thing from it. I worship the same God they do and believe everything in the Code and what the prophets said. ¹⁵ My accusers and I both share the hope that God will raise the dead . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. ¹⁶ Because of this, I watch everything I say and do. My conscience is absolutely clear before God and man.

¹⁷ "I had been away for a couple of years and just returned with money to help my people and to offer sacrifices to God. ¹⁸ They did find me in the main church as they said, but all I was doing was completing a purification ceremony. No one was around me, and there was certainly no riot. ¹⁹ But here's what really happened, some Jews from the province of Asia saw me there. And might I add, they should be the ones here making the accusations, not these folks. ²⁰ Better yet, the high council in Jerusalem didn't even find me guilty of anything ²¹ except for the one time I shouted, 'I'm only on trial because I believe God will raise the dead!'"

²² Felix finally held a hand up. He was quite familiar with the cowboys who rode for the Way. Felix then said, "I've sent for Lysias, the garrison commander. I will hear his testimony and then make a decision." ²³ He adjourned the court and ordered Paul to be kept in custody, but he was free to come and go as he pleased. Felix also allowed Paul's friends to come and see him and care for his needs.

²⁴ A few days later, Felix, along with his Jewish wife, Drusilla, sent for Paul. They asked him in private about his faith in Jesus. ²⁵ Paul held nothing back. He told them the only way to be right with God was through Jesus. Paul also spoke of self-control and the day of judgment that would come for every man. This boogered Felix. He said to Paul, "That's enough for today. If I want more, I'll send for you." ²⁶ He sent for Paul quite a few times, but it wasn't always because he wanted to hear what the cowboy had to say. Felix was secretly hoping Paul would offer a bribe to let him go.

²⁷ Two years went by, and Felix was finally replaced with Porcius Festus. Felix hadn't wanted the Jews to say anything bad about him, so he'd left Paul locked up the whole time.