| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1And 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. | 1After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul. |
| 2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, | 2After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, |
| 3in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. | 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. |
| 4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. | 4"But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. |
| 5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. | 5"For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. |
| 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. | 6"And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. |
| 7 | 7"But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, |
| 8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” | 8ordering his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." |
| 9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. | 9The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. |
| 10And 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. | 10When the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, |
| 11You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, | 11since you can take note of the fact that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. |
| 12and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. | 12"Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or causing a riot. |
| 13Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. | 13"Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. |
| 14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, | 14"But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; |
| 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. | 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. |
| 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. | 16"In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. |
| 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. | 17"Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; |
| 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— | 18in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia-- |
| 19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. | 19who ought to have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. |
| 20Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, | 20"Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, |
| 21other than this one thing that 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.’” | 21other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'" |
| 22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” | 22But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." |
| 23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. | 23Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him. |
| 24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. | 24But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 25And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” | 25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." |
| 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. | 26At the same time too, he was hoping that money would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. |
| 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. | 27But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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