| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges 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 Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through 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. |
| 3Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. | 3For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. |
| 4But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. | 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 troublemaker, one who stirs up riots 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. |
| 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. | 6Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. |
| 8When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing." | 8You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” |
| 9The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true. | 9Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true. |
| 10When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, "Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. | 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. |
| 11As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. | 11You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. |
| 12They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout 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. |
| 13nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. | 13These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. |
| 14But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written 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. |
| 15I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both 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. |
| 16This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people. | 16Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. |
| 17After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings, | 17“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. |
| 18which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance. | 18My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. |
| 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and 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! |
| 20Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council, | 20Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, |
| 21other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: 'I am on trial before you today 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!’” |
| 22Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commanding officer 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 the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. | 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. |
| 24Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about 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. |
| 25While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send 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 Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked 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, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, 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. |
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