1 Ands[ch. 21:18, 27, with ver. 11] after five days the high priesttch. 23:2 Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid beforeuch. 23:24 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,vch. 23:26; Luke 1:3 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 detain1Or weary you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague,wSee Luke 23:2 one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader ofxver. 14; ch. 5:17; 15:5; 26:5; 28:22 the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 ych. 21:27-29 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 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 thatzSee ver. 1 it is not more than twelve days since Iach. 8:27; John 12:20 went upbch. 20:16 to worship in Jerusalem, 12 andc[ch. 25:8] 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 dch. 25:7 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according toever. 22; See ch. 9:2 the Way, which they callfver. 5 a sect,g2 Tim. 1:3; [ch. 27:23; Luke 1:74; Rom. 1:9; Heb. 9:14; 12:28] I worshiphSee ch. 3:13; 22:3 the God of our fathers, believing everythingich. 26:22; 28:23; [Rom. 3:21] laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 jSee ch. 23:6 havingkTitus 2:13; [Gal. 5:5] a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will belLuke 14:14 a resurrectionmSee Dan. 12:2 of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I alwaysn[1 Tim. 4:7, 15] take pains to have ao1 Cor. 10:32; Phil. 1:10; [Jude 24]; See ch. 23:1 clear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Nowp[ch. 20:31] after several yearsqRom. 15:25-28, 31; 1 Cor. 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:1-4; 9:1, 2, 12; [Gal. 2:10] I came to bring alms torch. 26:4; 28:19 my nation and to presents[ver. 11; ch. 20:16] offerings. 18 While I was doing this, they found metch. 21:26; 26:21 purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. Butuch. 21:27 some Jews from Asia— 19 vSee ch. 23:30 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 thingwSee ch. 23:6 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. ’ ”
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge ofxver. 14; See ch. 9:2 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 hey[ch. 28:16] should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and thatz[ch. 27:3] 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 aboutaSee ch. 20:21 faithbGal. 2:16; [Rom. 3:24] in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasonedc[Titus 2:12, 13] about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present.dch. 17:32; [2 Tim. 4:2] When I get an opportunity I will summon you. ” 26 At the same time he hopede[ver. 17] 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 Porciusfch. 25:1; 26:24 Festus. Andgch. 25:9; [ch. 12:3; Mark 15:15] desiring to do the Jews a favor,hch. 25:14; See Luke 21:12 Felix left Paul in prison.