Accused of Sedition
1 Now afterfive daysAnanias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain oratornamedTertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,
3 we acceptitalways and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.
5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wantedto judge him according to our law.
7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence tookhimout of our hands,
8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
The Defense Before Felix
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalemto worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according tothe Way which they call a sect, so I worship theGod of my fathers, believing all things which are written inthe Law and in the Prophets.
15 I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept,that there will be a resurrection ofthedead, both ofthejust andtheunjust.
16 Thisbeingso, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
17 “Now after many yearsI came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found mepurified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.
19 They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
20 Or else let those who areherethemselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,
21 unlessitisfor this one statement which I cried out, standing among them,‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ”
Felix Procrastinates
22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge oftheWay, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “WhenLysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.”
23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to lethimhave liberty, andtold him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning thefaith in Christ.
25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”
26 Meanwhile he also hoped thatmoney would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him.
27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix,wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.