| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New Living Translation |
| 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. | 1Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. |
| 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, | 2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. |
| 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. | 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. |
| 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. | 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. |
| 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! | 5We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. |
| 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. | 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. |
| 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, | 7 |
| 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." | 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” |
| 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so. | 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. |
| 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. | 10The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. |
| 11You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. | 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. |
| 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. | 12My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. |
| 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. | 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. |
| 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. | 14“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. |
| 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. | 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. |
| 16I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men. | 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. |
| 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, | 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. |
| 18and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. | 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. |
| 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. | 19But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here 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, | 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, |
| 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.'" | 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” |
| 22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." | 22At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” |
| 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. | 23He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs. |
| 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. | 24A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. |
| 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." | 25As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” |
| 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. | 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. |
| 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. | 27After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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