Acts 24 After five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders. They brought an orator, Tertullus, who made a statement to the governor against Paul.

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ After five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders. They brought an orator, Tertullus, who made a statement to the governor against Paul. ² Tertullus presented his case: ³ »We have seen peace under your rule. Excellent accomplishments have come to this nation due to your forethought. We acknowledge this with profound gratitude, most excellent Felix. ⁴ »That I not hinder you more, I request that you to hear us briefly in fairness. ⁵ »We have found this man to be a troublemaker who stirs up sedition (resists lawful authority) among all the Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ »He even tried to desecrate the temple. So we captured him according to our law. ⁷ »But the Roman commander Lysias came to us with the use of force and snatched him from our hands. ⁸ »He commanded his accusers to come to you. Examine him yourself and you will learn the truth about these charges we bring against him.« ⁹ The Jews also joined in accusing him, saying that these things were true. ¹⁰ The governor motioned for Paul to speak. He said, »I know that you have been a judge for this nation for many years. For this reason I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ You can easily verify that it was no more than twelve days ago that I went to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² »They did not find me in the Temple, in the synagogues nor in the city disputing with any man. Neither did I cause a riot with the people. ¹³ »Neither can they prove the things for which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ »This I confess to you that according to The Way, which they call a sect, I serve the God of our fathers. I believe all the things written in the law and the prophets. ¹⁵ »I have hope toward God, which they also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. ¹⁶ »I exercise myself always, to have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men. ¹⁷ »Now after many years I came to bring offerings and gifts of mercy to my nation. ¹⁸ »Some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple. There was neither crowd nor disturbance! ¹⁹ »They should have been here before you to testify against me. ²⁰ »Or let the men here say what wrong they found in me while I stood before the Sanhedrin. ²¹ »Except for one utterance I cried out while standing among them. It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am called in question by you this day.« ²² When Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them saying, »When Lysias the commander comes here I will decide your case.« ²³ He commanded a centurion to keep Paul. Allow him some freedom of custody and that some of his people should come and minister to him. ²⁴ A few days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ. ²⁵ He reasoned about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come. Felix trembled, and answered: »Go your way for now. When I have time I will send for you.« ²⁶ He hoped that Paul would give him money to free him. He sent for him frequently and conversed with him. ²⁷ After two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix. Felix was willing to show the Jews a favor. He left Paul in prison.