Net English TranslationActs 24 =
The Accusations Against Paul
24

1 After five days the high priest Ananias1 came down with some elders and an attorney2 named3 Tertullus, and they4 brought formal charges5 against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul6 had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him,7 saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time8 of peace through your rule,9 and reforms10 are being made in this nation11 through your foresight.12 3 Most excellent Felix,13 we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way14 with all gratitude.15 4 But so that I may not delay16 you any further, I beg17 you to hear us briefly18 with your customary graciousness.19 5 For we have found20 this man to be a troublemaker,21 one who stirs up riots22 among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader23 of the sect of the Nazarenes.24 6 He25 even tried to desecrate26 the temple, so we arrested27 him. 7 [[EMPTY]]28 8 When you examine29 him yourself, you will be able to learn from him30 about all these things we are accusing him of doing.”31 9 The Jews also joined in the verbal attack,32 claiming33 that these things were true.

Paul’s Defense Before Felix

10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know34 that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.35 11 As you can verify36 for yourself, not more than twelve days ago37 I went up to Jerusalem38 to worship. 12 They did not find me arguing39 with anyone or stirring up a crowd40 in the temple courts41 or in the synagogues42 or throughout the city,43 13 nor can they prove44 to you the things45 they are accusing me of doing.46 14 But I confess this to you, that I worship47 the God of our ancestors48 according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law49 and that is written in the prophets. 15 I have50 a hope in God (a hope51 that52 these men53 themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.54 16 This is the reason55 I do my best to always56 have a clear57 conscience toward God and toward people.58 17 After several years59 I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor60 and to present offerings,61 18 which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified,62 without a crowd or a disturbance.63 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia64 who should be here before you and bring charges,65 if they have anything against me. 20 Or these men here66 should tell what crime67 they found me guilty of68 when I stood before the council,69 21 other than70 this one thing71 I shouted out while I stood before72 them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”73

22 Then Felix,74 who understood the facts75 concerning the Way76 more accurately,77 adjourned their hearing,78 saying, “When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.”79 23 He ordered the centurion80 to guard Paul,81 but to let him have some freedom,82 and not to prevent any of his friends83 from meeting his needs.84

Paul Speaks Repeatedly to Felix

24 Some days later, when Felix85 arrived with his wife Drusilla,86 who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak87 about faith in Christ Jesus.88 25 While Paul89 was discussing90 righteousness, self-control,91 and the coming judgment, Felix92 became93 frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity,94 I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money,95 and for this reason he sent for Paul96 as often as possible97 and talked98 with him. 27 After two years99 had passed, Porcius Festus100 succeeded Felix,101 and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.102

124:1sn Ananias was in office from a.d. 47-59. 224:1tn The term refers to a professional advocate (BDAG 905 s.v. ῥήτωρ). 324:1tn Grk “an attorney, a certain Tertullus.” 424:1tn Grk “who” (plural). Because in English the relative pronoun “who” could be understood to refer only to the attorney Tertullus and not to the entire group, it has been replaced with the third person plural pronoun “they.” “And” has been supplied to provide the connection to the preceding clause. 524:1tn BDAG 326 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 3 has “ἐ. τινὶ κατά τινος bring formal charges against someone…Ac 24:1; 25:2.” 624:2tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been supplied in the translation for clarity. 724:2tn Or “began to bring charges, saying.” 824:2tn Grk “experienced much peace.” 924:2tn Grk “through you” (“rule” is implied). 1024:2tn This term is used only once in the NT (a hapax legomenon). It refers to improvements in internal administration (BDAG 251 s.v. διόρθωμα). 1124:2tn Or “being made for this people.” 1224:2sn References to peaceful rule, reforms, and the governor’s foresight in the opening address by Tertullus represent an attempt to praise the governor and thus make him favorable to the case. Actual descriptions of his rule portray him as inept (Tacitus, Annals 12.54; Josephus, J. W. 2.13.2-7 [2.253-270]). 1324:3sn Most excellent Felix. See the note on Felix in 23:24. 1424:3tn Grk “in every way and everywhere.” 1524:3tn Or “with complete thankfulness.” BDAG 416 s.v. εὐχαριστία 1 has “μετὰ πάσης εὐ.…with all gratitude Ac 24:3.” L&N 31.26 has “‘we acknowledge this anywhere and everywhere with complete thankfulness’ Ac 24:3.” 1624:4tn Or “may not weary.” BDAG 274 s.v. ἐγκόπτω states, “ἵνα μὴ ἐπὶ πλεῖόν σε ἐγκόπτω Ac 24:4 is understood by Syr. and Armen. versions to mean in order not to weary you any further; cp. ἔγκοπος weary Diog. L. 4, 50; LXX; and ἔγκοπον ποιεῖν to weary Job 19:2; Is 43:23. But impose on is also prob.; detain NRSV.” 1724:4tn Or “request.” 1824:4tn This term is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 976 s.v. συντόμως 2). Tertullus was asking for a brief hearing, and implying to the governor that he would speak briefly and to the point. 1924:4tn BDAG 371 s.v. ἐπιείκεια has “τῇ σῇ ἐ. with your (customary) indulgence Ac 24:4.” 2024:5tn Grk “For having found.” The participle εὑρόντες (Jeurontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 2124:5tn L&N 22.6 has “(a figurative extension of meaning of λοιμός ‘plague,’ 23.158) one who causes all sorts of trouble – ‘troublemaker, pest.’ … ‘for we have found this man to be a troublemaker” Ac 24:5.” 2224:5tn Or “dissensions.” While BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3 translates this phrase “κινεῖν στάσεις (v.l. στάσιν) τισί create dissension among certain people Ac 24:5,” it is better on the basis of the actual results of Paul’s ministry to categorize this usage under section 2, “uprising, riot, revolt, rebellion” (cf. the use in Acts 19:40). 2324:5tn This term is yet another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 894 s.v. πρωτοστάτης).sn A ringleader. Tertullus’ basic argument was that Paul was a major disturber of the public peace. To ignore this the governor would be shunning his duty to preserve the peace and going against the pattern of his rule. In effect, Tertullus claimed that Paul was seditious (a claim the governor could not afford to ignore). 2424:5sn The sect of the Nazarenes is a designation for followers of Jesus the Nazarene, that is, Christians. 2524:6tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun here in the translation. 2624:6tn Or “profane” (BDAG 173 s.v. βεβηλόω). The term was also used of profaning the Sabbath. 2724:6tn Or “seized.” Grk “whom also we arrested.” Because of the awkwardness of a relative clause in English at this point, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the pronoun “him” as object of the verb. 2824:7tc Some later mss include some material at the end of v. 6, all of 24:7, and some material at the beginning of v. 8: “and we wanted to judge him according to our law. 24:7 But Lysias the commanding officer came and took him out of our hands with a great deal of violence, 24:8 ordering those who accused him to come before you.” Acts 24:6b, 7, and 8a are lacking in Ì74 א A B H L P 049 81 1175 1241 pm and a few versional witnesses. They are included (with a few minor variations) in E Ψ 33 323 614 945 1505 1739 pm and a few versional witnesses. This verse (and parts of verses) is most likely not a part of the original text of Acts, for not only is it lacking from the better witnesses, there is no easy explanation as to how such could be missing from them. The present translation follows NA27 in omitting the verse number, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations. 2924:8tn Or “question.” 3024:8tn Grk “From whom when you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn…” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the third person singular pronoun (“him”) and a new sentence begun at the beginning of v. 8 in the translation. 3124:8tn Grk “about all these things of which we are accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“of which”) in the translation. 3224:9tn Grk “joined in the attack,” but the adjective “verbal” has been supplied to clarify that this was not another physical assault on Paul. The verb is another NT hapax legomenon (BDAG 969 s.v. συνεπιτίθημι). 3324:9tn Or “asserting” (BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσκω). 3424:10tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. 3524:10sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment. 3624:11tn BDAG 369 s.v. ἐπιγινώσκω 2.c has “notice, perceive, learn of, ascertain…Also as legal t.t. ascertain (2 Macc 14:9) τὶ Ac 23:28; cp. 24:8. W. ὅτι foll. Ac 24:11.” “Verify” is an English synonym for “ascertain.” 3724:11tn Grk “it is not more than twelve days from when.” This has been simplified to “not more than twelve days ago.”sn Part of Paul’s defense is that he would not have had time to organize a revolt, since he had arrived in Jerusalem not more than twelve days ago. 3824:11map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 3924:12tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.” 4024:12tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “ἐ. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested. 4124:12tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly. 4224:12sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9. 4324:12sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city. 4424:13tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.f has “οὐδὲ παραστῆσαι δύνανταί σοι περὶ ὧν νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me Ac 24:13.”sn Nor can they prove. This is a formal legal claim that Paul’s opponents lacked proof of any wrongdoing. They had no witness who could justify the arrest at the temple. 4524:13tn The words “the things” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader. 4624:13tn Grk “nor can they prove to you [the things] about which they are now accusing me.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“which”) in the translation. 4724:14tn Or “serve.” 4824:14tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.” 4924:14sn That is, the law of Moses. Paul was claiming that he legitimately worshiped the God of Israel. He was arguing that this amounted to a religious dispute rather than a political one, so that the Roman authorities need not concern themselves with it. 5024:15tn Grk “having.” The participle ἔχων (ecwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence. 5124:15sn This mention of Paul’s hope sets up his appeal to the resurrection of the dead. At this point Paul was ignoring the internal Jewish dispute between the Pharisees (to which he had belonged) and the Sadducees (who denied there would be a resurrection of the dead). 5224:15tn Grk “a hope in God (which these [men] themselves accept too).” Because the antecedent of the relative pronoun “which” is somewhat unclear in English, the words “a hope” have been repeated at the beginning of the parenthesis for clarity. 5324:15tn Grk “that they”; the referent (these men, Paul’s accusers) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 5424:15tn Or “the unjust.”sn This is the only mention of the resurrection of the unrighteous in Acts. The idea parallels the idea of Jesus as the judge of both the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31). 5524:16tn BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 9.a, “ἐν τούτῳ πιστεύομεν this is the reason why we believe Jn 16:30; cp. Ac 24:16.” 5624:16tn BDAG 224 s.v. διά 2.a, “διὰ παντός…always, continually, constantly…Ac 2:25 (Ps 15:8); 10:2; 24:16.” However, the positioning of the adverb “always” in the English translation is difficult; the position used is one of the least awkward. 5724:16tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀπρόσκοπος 1 has “ἀ. συνείδησις a clear conscience Ac 24:16.” 5824:16tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use (Paul does not have only males in view). 5924:17tn BDAG 401 s.v. ἔτος has “δι᾿ ἐ. πλειόνων after several years 24:17.” 6024:17tn Grk “to bring alms,” but the term “alms” is not in common use today, so the closest modern equivalent, “gifts for the poor,” is used instead. 6124:17tn Or “sacrifices.” BDAG 887 s.v. προσφορά 1 has “προσφοράς ποιεῖν have sacrifices made Ac 24:17,” but this may be overly specific. It is not clear from the immediate context whether the offering of sacrificial animals (so BDAG assumes) or offerings of some other sort (such as financial gifts) are in view. The combination with ἐλεημοσύνας (elehmosuna") in the preceding clause may suggest monetary offerings. Some have suggested this is an allusion to the payments made by Paul on behalf of the four other men mentioned in Acts 21:23-26, but the text here seems to suggest something Paul had planned to do before he came, while the decision to pay for the expenses of the men in 21:23ff. was made at the suggestion of the Jerusalem leadership after he arrived. In either case, Paul was portraying himself as a pious worshiper of his God. 6224:18sn Ritually purified. Paul’s claim here is that he was honoring the holiness of God by being sensitive to issues of ritual purity. Not only was he not guilty of the charges against him, but he was thoroughly devout. 6324:18tn BDAG 458 s.v. θόρυβος 3.b has “μετὰ θορύβου…with a disturbance Ac 24:18.” 6424:19tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia. 6524:19tn BDAG 533 s.v. κατηγορέω 1 states, “nearly always as legal t.t.: bring charges in court.” L&N 33.427 states for κατηγορέω (kathgorew), “to bring serious charges or accusations against someone, with the possible connotation of a legal or court context – ‘to accuse, to bring charges.’”sn Who should be here…and bring charges. Paul was asking, where were those who brought about his arrest and claimed he broke the law? His accusers were not really present. This subtle point raised the issue of injustice. 6624:20tn Grk “these [men] themselves.” 6724:20tn Or “unrighteous act.” 6824:20tn The words “me guilty of” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. L&N 88.23 has “αὐτοὶ οὗτοι εἰπάτωσαν τί εὗρον ἀδίκημα στάντος μου ‘let these men themselves tell what unrighteous act they found me guilty of’ Ac 24:20.” 6924:20tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews). 7024:21tn BDAG 433 s.v. ἤ 2.c has “οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἤ nothing else than…Ac 17:21. τί…ἤ what other…than…24:21.” 7124:21tn Grk “one utterance.” 7224:21tn Cf. BDAG 327 s.v. ἐν 1.e, which has “before, in the presence of, etc.” 7324:21sn The resurrection of the dead. Paul’s point was, what crime was there in holding this religious belief? 7424:22sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24. 7524:22tn Grk “the things.” 7624:22tn That is, concerning Christianity. 7724:22tn BDAG 39 s.v. ἀκριβῶς has “Comp. ἀκριβέστερον more exactly…ἀ. ἐκτίθεσθαι explain more exactly Ac 18:26, cp. 23:15, 20; also more accurately…24:22.” Felix knew more about the Christian movement than what the Jewish leaders had told him. 7824:22tn L&N 56.18 s.v. ἀναβάλλω has “to adjourn a court proceeding until a later time – ‘to adjourn a hearing, to stop a hearing and put it off until later.’…‘then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned their hearing’ Ac 24:22.” 7924:22tn BDAG 227 s.v. διαγινώσκω 2 states, “to make a judicial decision, decide/hear (a case)…τὰ καθ᾿ ὑμᾶς decide your case Ac 24:22.” 8024:23sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1. 8124:23tn Grk “that he was to be guarded.” The passive construction (τηρεῖσθαι, threisqai) has been converted to an active one in parallel with the following clauses, and the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 8224:23tn BDAG 77 s.v. ἄνεσις 1 states, “lit. relaxation of custodial control, some liberty, ἀ. ἔχειν have some freedom Ac 24:23.” 8324:23tn Grk “any of his own” (this could also refer to relatives). 8424:23tn Grk “from serving him.” 8524:24sn See the note on Antonius Felix in 23:24. 8624:24sn It is possible that Drusilla, being Jewish, was the source of Felix’s knowledge about the new movement called Christianity. The youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II, she would have been close to 20 years old at the time. She had married the king of a small region in Syria but divorced him at the age of 16 to marry Felix. This was her second marriage and Felix’s third (Josephus, Ant. 19.9.1 [19.354], 20.7.2 [20.141-144]). As a member of Herod’s family, she probably knew about the Way. 8724:24tn The word “speak” is implied; BDAG 32 s.v. ἀκούω 1.c has “ἤκουσεν αὐτοῦ περὶ τῆς…πίστεως he heard him speak about faith Ac 24:24.” 8824:24tn Or “Messiah Jesus”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” 8924:25tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 9024:25tn Or “speaking about.” 9124:25tn Grk “and self-control.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.sn The topic of self-control was appropriate in view of the personal history of both Felix and Drusilla (see the note on “Drusilla” in the previous verse), and might well account for Felix’s anxiety. 9224:25sn See the note on Felix in 23:26. 9324:25tn Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. 9424:25tn Or “when I find time.” BDAG 639 s.v. μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time…Ac 24:25.” 9524:26tn Grk “he was hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.” To simplify the translation, the passive construction has been converted to an active one.sn Would give him money. That is, would offer him a bribe in exchange for his release. Such practices were fairly common among Roman officials of the period (Josephus, Ant. 2.12.3 [2.272-274]). 9624:26tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 9724:26tn “As often as possible” reflects the comparative form of the adjective πυκνός (puknos); see BDAG 897 s.v. πυκνός, which has “Neut. of the comp. πυκνότερον as adv. more often, more frequently and in an elative sense very often, quite frequently…also as often as possible…Ac 24:26.” 9824:26tn On this term, which could mean “conferred with him,” see BDAG 705 s.v. ὁμιλέω. 9924:27tn Grk “After a two-year period.” 10024:27sn Porcius Festus was the procurator of Palestine who succeeded Felix; neither the beginning nor the end of his rule (at his death) can be determined with certainty, although he appears to have died in office after about two years. Nero recalled Felix in a.d. 57 or 58, and Festus was appointed to his vacant office in a.d. 57, 58, or 59. According to Josephus (Ant. 20.8.9-10 [20.182-188]; J. W. 2.14.1 [2.271-272]), his administration was better than that of his predecessor Felix or his successor Albinus, but Luke in Acts portrays him in a less favorable light: He was willing to sacrifice Paul to court Jewish favor by taking him to Jerusalem for trial (v. 9), regardless of Paul’s guilt or innocence. The one characteristic for which Festus was noted is that he dealt harshly with those who disturbed the peace. 10124:27tn Grk “Felix received as successor Porcius Festus.”sn See the note on Felix in 23:26. 10224:27tn Grk “left Paul imprisoned.”sn Felix left Paul in prison. Luke makes the point that politics got in the way of justice here; keeping Paul in prison was a political favor to the Jews.
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