Acts of the Apostles 24

The case for the prosecution

1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some of the elders and an advocate named Tertullus, and they laid their case against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus began the prosecution: “Thanks to you we enjoy a long peace, and by your foresight reforms have come to this nation. 3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge it with all gratitude. 4But so as not to detain you further, I beg you in your fairness to hear us briefly. 5We have found this man to be a plague: he stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and he is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to desecrate the temple, and we arrested him. 7But the commander Lysias came along and took him out of our hands with great violence,* 8and from him you will be able, by examining him yourself, to learn about everything of which we accuse this man.” 9The Jews joined in the attack, insisting that this was exactly how things stood.

Paul answers Felix

10When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul answered: “Knowing that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I make my defense with confidence. 11You can verify that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12They never found me arguing with anyone in the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere in the city, 13and they cannot prove to you the charges they are bringing against me now. 14But I admit this to you: it is according to the Way, which they call a sect, that I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything that is written in the law and the prophets, 15and holding the hope in God — a hope they themselves share — that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16That is why I too make it my constant discipline to keep my conscience clear before God and before people. 17After several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18It was while I was engaged in this, purified, that they found me in the temple — with no crowd and no disturbance. But some Jews from Asia were there; 19they are the ones who ought to be here before you to accuse me, if they have anything against me. 20Or let these men themselves say what crime they found when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21unless it was that one sentence I shouted as I stood among them: ‘It is over the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’” 22Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing. “When the commander Lysias comes down,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to allow him some freedom and to let none of his own people be kept from seeing to his needs.

Two years of delay

24Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Jesus Christ. 25But as Paul spoke of righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix grew frightened and said, “That is enough for now. Go. When I find the time I will send for you again.” 26He was also hoping that Paul would offer him money, so he sent for him often and talked with him. 27When two years had gone by, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.