Tertullus Prosecutes Paul

1Five days after the sovereign pontiff Ananias arriv'd and some of the senators, who with one Tertullus a pleader, appear'd before the governour as plaintiffs against Paul. 2so Paul was call'd, and Tertullus thus open'd the charge. 3"The happiness our nation enjoys, most noble Felix, by the wisdom of your administration, affects us too sensibly not to be acknowledg'd every where, and upon all occasions, with the utmost gratitude. 4but not to trespass upon you too far, be pleas'd to hear what I have to say in brief, with your usual indulgence. 5this man is known to be a pernicious fellow that goes about the world to raise seditions among the Jews: he is the ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, 6and has attempted to prophane the temple: we secur'd him, and would have try'd him by our law: 7but general Lysias interpos'd, and with open force took him out of our hands, 8ordering his accusers to appear before you, if you please to interrogate him yourself, you will find the whole charge to be truly laid." 9this the Jews confirm'd by declaring it was all fact.

Paul’s Defense to Felix

10Then the governour sign'd to Paul to reply; who said, I enter upon my defence with the greater confidence, by considering you have govern'd this nation several years: 11possibly you are appriz'd, that it is not above twelve days since, that I went to Jerusalem to worship. 12they neither found me in conference with any one in the temple, nor working up the people either in the assemblies or in the streets: 13so far are they from proving what they lay to my charge. 14I do indeed own, that I serve the God of our nation according to the discipline they call sect: and believe whatever is written in the law and in the prophets. 15I have the same expectations from the DEITY, which they themselves entertain, that of the resurrection both of the just and of the unjust. 16and 'tis my endeavour to preserve a conscience free from reproach both with respect to God, and with respect to men. 17after several years absence I came to Jerusalem, with contributions for my brethren, and oblations for the temple: 18there religiously employ'd some Asiatic Jews found me, without crowd or tumult: 19and here they ought to have appear'd, if they had any thing to object against me. 20or let these now declare, if they could convict me of any misdemeanor, when I was brought before the Sanhedrim: 21unless it be, that I did indeed break out into this expression, it "is for the resurrection of the dead, that I am now call'd into question."

The Verdict Postponed

22Then Felix adjourn'd them, saying, I shall inform myself more particularly of this sect, and when general Lysias comes, I will give you a full hearing. 23Felix then order'd a centurion to take Paul into his custody, without confining him so as to hinder his friends from waiting upon him.

24some time after he came to Cesarea with his wife Drusilla, a Jewess, when sending for Paul, he heard him discourse about the Christian faith. 25but as he was treating of justice, temperance, and a future judgment, Felix greatly alarm'd, said, "withdraw for the present; and when I am at leisure, I will send for you." 26this he frequently did, and convers'd with him upon the presumption that Paul would have 27offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge, but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.