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1 After five days, Ananias the chief priest, with certain elders, and a certain orator named Tertullus went there. These men brought charges against Paul before the governor.
2 When Paul stood before the governor, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, “Because of you we have great peace, and your foresight brings good reform to our nation;
3 both in every way and everywhere we acknowledge this, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 However, so as not to detain you any longer, I ask you to briefly listen to us in your kindness.
5 For we have found this man to be a pest and one who causes rebellion among all the Jews who are throughout the world. Also, he is a leader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. [ We wanted to judge him according to our law.
7 But Lysias, the officer, came and took him by force out of our hands,
8 commanding his accusers to come to you.] You can question him yourself about all these matters to learn about the things of which we are accusing him.”
9 Then the Jews also agreed, affirming that these charges were true.
10 After the governor motioned for Paul to speak, Paul then answered, “I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, so I gladly make my defense about the things concerning me.
11 You will be able to find out that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 They neither found me in the temple arguing with anyone, nor was I stirring up a crowd, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city.
13 They are not able to prove to you about the things which they are now accusing me.
14 But I confess this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, in that same way I serve the God of our fathers. I am faithful to all that is according to the law and that has been written in the prophets.
15 I have the same confident hope in God which also these men themselves await, that there is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 So in this also I myself always strive in everything to have a clear conscience before God and human beings.
17 Now after many years I came to bring gifts of money to the poor of my nation, and offerings.
18 They found me doing this, purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with an uproar.
19 But there are certain Jews from Asia, who ought to be present before you and make accusations, if they have anything against me.
20 Or else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council,
21 other than about this one thing that I shouted out when I stood among them, ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”
22 Then Felix, who had a more accurate knowledge about the things concerning the Way, delayed them. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down from Jerusalem, I will decide the things concerning you.”
23 Then he commanded the centurion to keep Paul in custody, but to let him have some freedom, and not to forbid his own friends to minister to him.
24 After some days, Felix returned with Drusilla his own wife, who was a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and he heard from him about the faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, and self- control, and the judgment that is coming, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now. But when I find an opportunity, I will send for you.”
26 At the same time he also hoped that he would be given money by Paul, and therefore he often sent for him and spoke with him.
27 But when two years passed, Porcius Festus became the governor after Felix, but Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he left Paul to continue under guard.
The Acts of the Apostles