| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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, | 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, |
| 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. | 3we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. |
| 4"But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. | 4However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing. |
| 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. | 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! |
| 6"And he even tried to desecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. | 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law. |
| 7"But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, | 7But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force, |
| 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." | 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 also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. | 9The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so. |
| 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, | 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. |
| 11since you can take note of the fact 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 13"Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. | 13Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me. |
| 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; | 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. |
| 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly 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. |
| 16"In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. | 16I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men. |
| 17"Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; | 17After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation, |
| 18in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been purified, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from 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 have been present before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. | 19It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. |
| 20"Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, | 20Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, |
| 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.'" | 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.'" |
| 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." | 22Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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 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. | 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. |
| 27But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned. | 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. |
| 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 | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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