Act 24 | ESV | STEP | And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman , one Tertullus . They laid before the governor their case against Paul .

‏ Acts 24

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

1 And ^aafter five days the high priest ^bAnanias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before ^cthe 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, ^dmost 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 ^{▼▼Or weary} you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, ^fone who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of ^gthe sect of the Nazarenes. 6 ^hHe even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add and we would have judged him according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come before you.} 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 ^jit is not more than twelve days since I ^kwent up ^lto worship in Jerusalem, 12 and ^mthey 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 ⁿNeither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to ^othe Way, which they call ^pa sect, ^qI worship ^rthe God of our fathers, believing everything ^slaid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 ^thaving ^ua hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be ^va resurrection ^wof both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always ^xtake pains to have a ^yclear conscience toward both God and man. 17 Now ^zafter several years ^aaI came to bring alms to ^abmy nation and to present ^acofferings. 18 While I was doing this, they found me ^adpurified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But ^aesome Jews from Asia— 19 ^afthey 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 ^agthat 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 ^ahthe 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 ^aishould be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that ^ajnone 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 ^akfaith ^alin Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned ^amabout righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. ^anWhen I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26 At the same time he hoped ^aothat 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 ^apFestus. And ^aqdesiring to do the Jews a favor, ^arFelix left Paul in prison.