Acts 24

1And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.

1And after five days, the high priest, Ananias, came with certain of the rulers, and an expert talker, one Tertullus; and they made a statement to Felix against Paul.

2And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,

2And when he had been sent for, Tertullus, starting his statement, said, Because by you we are living in peace, and through your wisdom wrongs are put right for this nation,

3we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

3In all things and in all places we are conscious of our great debt to you, most noble Felix.

4But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.

4But, so that I may not make you tired, I make a request to you of your mercy, to give hearing to a short statement.

5For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;

5For this man, in our opinion, is a cause of trouble, a maker of attacks on the government among Jews through all the empire, and a chief mover in the society of the Nazarenes:

6who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;

6Who, in addition, was attempting to make the Temple unclean: whom we took,

7but Lysias, the chiliarch, coming up, took [him] away with great force out of our hands,

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8having commanded his accusers to come to thee;] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.

8And from whom you will be able, by questioning him yourself, to get knowledge of all the things which we say against him.

9And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.

9And the Jews were in agreement with his statement, saying that these things were so.

10But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.

10Then when the ruler had given him a sign to make his answer, Paul said, Because I have knowledge that you have been a judge over this nation for a number of years, I am glad to make my answer:

11As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,

11Seeing that you are able to make certain of the fact that it is not more than twelve days from the time when I came up to Jerusalem for worship;

12and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;

12And they have not seen me in argument with any man in the Temple, or working up the feelings of the people, in the Synagogues or in the town:

13neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.

13And they are not able to give facts in support of the things which they say against me now.

14But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers'God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;

14But this I will say openly to you, that I do give worship to the God of our fathers after that Way, which to them is not the true religion: but I have belief in all the things which are in the law and in the books of the prophets:

15having hope towardsGod, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.

15Hoping in God for that which they themselves are looking for, that there will be a coming back from the dead for upright men and wrongdoers.

16For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towardsGod and men.

16And in this, I do my best at all times to have no reason for shame before God or men.

17And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.

17Now after a number of years I came to give help and offerings to my nation:

18Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,

18And having been made clean, I was in the Temple, but not with a great number of people, and not with noise: but there were certain Jews from Asia,

19who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;

19And it would have been better if they had come here to make a statement, if they have anything against me.

20or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,

20Or let these men here present say what wrongdoing was seen in me when I was before the Sanhedrin,

21[other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.

21But only this one thing which I said among them in a loud voice, I am this day being judged on the question of the coming back from the dead.

22And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;

22But Felix, who had a more detailed knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, When Lysias, the chief captain, comes down, I will give attention to your business.

23ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.

23And he gave orders to the captain to keep Paul under his control, and to let him have everything he had need of; and not to keep his friends from coming to see him.

24And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

24But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was of the Jews by birth, and sent for Paul, and gave hearing to him about faith in Christ Jesus.

25And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;

25And while he was talking about righteousness and self-control and the judging which was to come, Felix had great fear and said, Go away for the present, and when the right time comes I will send for you.

26hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.

26For he was hoping that Paul would give him money: so he sent for him more frequently and had talk with him.

27But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.

27But after two years Porcius Festus took the place of Felix, who, desiring to have the approval of the Jews, kept Paul in chains.