After afive
days
the high
priest
bAnanias
came
down
with some
elders
, 1with an 2attorney
named Tertullus
, and they 3brought
charges
to cthe governor
against
Paul
.
After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus
began
to accuse
him, saying
to the governor,
"Since we have through you attained
much
peace
, and since by your providence
reforms
are being
carried
out for this
nation
,
we acknowledge this in every
way
and everywhere
, amost
excellent
Felix
, with all
thankfulness
.
"But, that I may not weary you any
further
, I beg
you 1to grant
us, by your kindness
, a brief
hearing
.
"For we have found this
man
a real pest
and a fellow who stirs
up dissension
among all
the Jews
throughout
1the world
, and a ringleader
of the asect
of the Nazarenes
.
"And he even tried
to adesecrate
the temple
; and 1then
we arrested
him. [ 2We wanted
to judge
him according
to our own Law
.
"But Lysias the commander
came
along
, and with much
violence
took
him out of our hands
,
ordering his accusers
to come
before
you.] By examining
him yourself
concerning
all
these
matters you will be able
to ascertain
the things of which
we accuse
him."
aThe Jews also
joined
in the attack
, asserting
that these
things
were so
.
When athe governor had nodded
for him to speak
, Paul
responded
:
"Knowing that for many
years
you have been
a judge
to this
nation
, I cheerfully
make
my defense
,
since you can take
note
of the fact
that no
more
than atwelve
days
ago
I went
up to Jerusalem
to worship
.
" aNeither in the temple
, nor
in the synagogues
, nor
in the city
itself did they find
me carrying
on a discussion
with anyone
or
bcausing
1a riot
.
" aNor can
they prove
to you the charges of which
they now
accuse
me.
"But this I admit
to you, that according
to athe Way
which
they call
a bsect
I do serve
1 cthe God
of our fathers
, dbelieving
everything
that is in accordance
with the Law
and that is written
in the Prophets
;
having a hope
in God
, which
athese
men
cherish
themselves
, that there shall certainly
be a resurrection
of both
the righteous
and the wicked
.
"In view of this, aI also
1do
my best
to maintain
always
a blameless
conscience
both before
God
and before men
.
"Now aafter
several
years
I bcame
to bring
1alms
to my nation
and to present
offerings
;
in which they found
me occupied in the temple
, having been apurified
, without
any bcrowd
or
uproar
. But there were some
cJews
from 1Asia
--
who ought
to have been
present
before
you and to amake
accusation
, if
they should have
anything
against
me.
"Or else
let these
men
themselves
tell
what
misdeed
they found
when I stood
before
athe 1Council
,
other than
for this
one
statement
which
aI shouted
out while standing
among
them, `For the resurrection
of the dead
I am on trial
before
you today
.' "
But Felix, 1having
a more
exact
knowledge
about
athe Way
, put
them off
, saying
, "When
Lysias
the 2commander
comes
down
, I will decide
your case
."
Then he gave
orders
to the centurion
for him to be akept
in custody
and yet bhave
some freedom
, and not to prevent
any
of chis friends
from ministering
to him.
But some days
later
Felix
arrived
with Drusilla
, his 1wife
who was a Jewess
, and sent
for Paul
and heard
him speak about
afaith
in Christ
Jesus
.
But as he was discussing arighteousness
, bself-control
and cthe judgment
to come
, Felix
became
frightened
and said
, "Go
away
for the present
, and when I find
time
I will summon
you."
At the same time
too
, he was hoping
that amoney
would be given
him by Paul
; therefore
he also
used to send
for him quite
often
and converse
with him.
But after two years
had passed
, Felix
1was succeeded
by Porcius
aFestus
, and bwishing
to do
the Jews
a favor
, Felix
left
Paul
cimprisoned
.