| King James Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. | 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. |
| 2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, | 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 accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. | 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. |
| 4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. | 4But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. |
| 5For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the 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. |
| 6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. | 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. |
| 7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, | 7 |
| 8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. | 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” |
| 9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. | 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. |
| 10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: | 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. |
| 11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. | 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. |
| 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor 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 prove the things whereof they now accuse me. | 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. |
| 14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which 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 have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. | 15I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. |
| 16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. | 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. |
| 17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. | 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. |
| 18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. | 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. |
| 19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought 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! |
| 20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, | 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, |
| 21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. | 21except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’” |
| 22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. | 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.” |
| 23And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto 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. |
| 24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. | 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. |
| 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. | 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.” |
| 26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. | 26He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him. |
| 27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. | 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. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | 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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