Moff ACTs Chapter 24

◄ ACTs 24 ► ║ ═ ©

24 Five days later down came the high priest Ananias with some elders and a barrister called Tertullus. They laid information before the governor against Paul. 2 So Paul was summoned, and then Tertullus proceeded to accuse him. "Your excellency," he said to Felix, "as it is owing to you that we enjoy unbroken peace, and as it is owing to your wise care that the state of this nation has been improved in every way and everywhere, 3 we acknowledge all this with profound gratitude. 4 I have no wish to weary you, but I beg of you to grant us in your courtesy a brief hearing. 5 The fact is, we have found this man is a perfect pest; he stirs up sedition among the Jews all over the world and he is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect. 6 He actually tried to desecrate the temple, but we got hold of him. 7 -- 8 Examine him for yourself and you will be able to find out about all these charges of ours against him." 9 The Jews joined in the attack, declaring that such were the facts of the case.

10 Then at a nod from the governor Paul made his reply. "As I know you have administered justice in this nation for a number of years," he said, "I feel encouraged to make my defence, 11 because it is not more than twelve days, as you can easily ascertain, since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 12 They never found me arguing with anyone in the temple or causing a riot either in the synagogues or in the city; 13 they cannot furnish you with any proof of their present charges against me. 14 I certainly admit to you that I worship our fathers' God according to the methods of what they call a 'sect'; but I believe all that is written in the Law and in the prophets, 15 and I cherish the same hope in God as they accept, namely that there is to be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. 16 Hence I too endeavour to have a clear conscience before God and men all the time. 17 After a lapse of several years I came up with alms and offerings for my nation, 18 and it was in presenting these that I was found within the temple. I was ceremonially pure, I was not mixed up in any mob or riot; no, the trouble was caused by some Jews from Asia, 19 who ought to have been here before you with any charge they may have against me. 20 Failing them, let these men yonder tell what fault they found with my appearance before the Sanhedrin! — 21 unless it was with the single sentence I uttered, when I stood and said, 'It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial to-day before you.''

22 As Felix had a pretty accurate knowledge of the Way, he remanded Paul, telling the Jews, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.' 23 He gave orders to the officer to have Paul kept in custody but to allow him some freedom and not to prevent any of his own people from rendering him any service.

24 Some days later Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and heard what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus; 25 but when he argued about morality, self-mastery, and the future judgment, Felix grew uneasy. 'You may go for the present,' he said; 'when I can find a moment, I will send for you' 26 (though at the same time he hoped Paul would give him a bribe). So he did send for him pretty frequently and conversed with him. 27 But when two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and as Felix wanted to ingratiate himself with the Jews, he left Paul still in custody.

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