[1] And after five days, the high priest, Ananias, came with certain of the
rulers, and an expert talker, one Tertullus; and they made a statement to
Felix against Paul. [2] And when he had been sent for, Tertullus, starting
his statement, said, Because by you we are living in peace, and through
your wisdom wrongs are put right for this nation, [3] In all things and in
all places we are conscious of our great debt to you, most noble Felix. [4]
But, so that I may not make you tired, I make a request to you of your
mercy, to give hearing to a short statement. [5] For this man, in our
opinion, is a cause of trouble, a maker of attacks on the government among
Jews through all the empire, and a chief mover in the society of the
Nazarenes: [6] Who, in addition, was attempting to make the Temple unclean:
whom we took, [7] [] [8] And from whom you will be able, by questioning him
yourself, to get knowledge of all the things which we say against him. [9]
And the Jews were in agreement with his statement, saying that these things
were so. [10] Then when the ruler had given him a sign to make his answer,
Paul said, Because I have knowledge that you have been a judge over this
nation for a number of years, I am glad to make my answer: [11] Seeing that
you are able to make certain of the fact that it is not more than twelve
days from the time when I came up to Jerusalem for worship; [12] And they
have not seen me in argument with any man in the Temple, or working up the
feelings of the people, in the Synagogues or in the town: [13] And they are
not able to give facts in support of the things which they say against me
now. [14] But this I will say openly to you, that I do give worship to the
God of our fathers after that Way, which to them is not the true religion:
but I have belief in all the things which are in the law and in the books
of the prophets: [15] Hoping in God for that which they themselves are
looking for, that there will be a coming back from the dead for upright men
and wrongdoers. [16] And in this, I do my best at all times to have no
reason for shame before God or men. [17] Now after a number of years I came
to give help and offerings to my nation: [18] And having been made clean, I
was in the Temple, but not with a great number of people, and not with
noise: but there were certain Jews from Asia, [19] And it would have been
better if they had come here to make a statement, if they have anything
against me. [20] Or let these men here present say what wrongdoing was seen
in me when I was before the Sanhedrin, [21] But only this one thing which I
said among them in a loud voice, I am this day being judged on the question
of the coming back from the dead. [22] But Felix, who had a more detailed
knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, When Lysias, the chief captain,
comes down, I will give attention to your business. [23] And he gave orders
to the captain to keep Paul under his control, and to let him have
everything he had need of; and not to keep his friends from coming to see
him. [24] But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was
of the Jews by birth, and sent for Paul, and gave hearing to him about
faith in Christ Jesus. [25] And while he was talking about righteousness
and self-control and the judging which was to come, Felix had great fear
and said, Go away for the present, and when the right time comes I will
send for you. [26] For he was hoping that Paul would give him money: so he
sent for him more frequently and had talk with him. [27] But after two
years Porcius Festus took the place of Felix, who, desiring to have the
approval of the Jews, kept Paul in chains.
