The Accusation against Paul

1After five days Ananiasa the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyerb named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.c 2When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: “Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight, 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellentd Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. 5For we have found this man to be a plague,e an agitatorf among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the •Nazarenes!g 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, 8commanding his accusers to come to you.h By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.” 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

Paul’s Defense before Felix

10When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.i 11You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.j 12They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the •temple complex or in the •synagogues or anywhere in the city.k 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. 14But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way,l which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.m 15And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection,n, o both of the righteous and the unrighteous.p 16I always do my best to have a clear conscienceq toward God and men. 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,r 18and while I was doing this, some Jews from •Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.s 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the •Sanhedrin, 21or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ”

The Verdict Postponed

22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way,t he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23He ordered that the •centurion keep Paulu under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from servingv him.w

24After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,x Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I find time I’ll call for you.” 26At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.y For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

27After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus,z and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews,aa Felix left Paul in prison.ab