| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul. | 1After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. |
| 2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation. | 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, |
| 3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. | 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. |
| 4But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly. | 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. |
| 5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, | 5For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes! |
| 6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. | 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. |
| 7 | 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, |
| 8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.” | 8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of." |
| 9The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true. | 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so. |
| 10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. | 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. |
| 11You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. | 11You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. |
| 12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city. | 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. |
| 13Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me. | 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. |
| 14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, | 14But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets. |
| 15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. | 15And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. |
| 16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man. | 16I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men. |
| 17After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings. | 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, |
| 18At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia | 18and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. |
| 19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. | 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. |
| 20Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, | 20Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, |
| 21unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ ” | 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.'" |
| 22Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.” | 22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." |
| 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs. | 23He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him. |
| 24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. | 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. |
| 25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.” | 25Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you." |
| 26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him. | 26At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. |
| 27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. | 27After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison. |
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