1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 24 ©
1 The High Priest Ananias and the elders of the people appear with the advocate Tertullus before Felix against Paul. 5 Bring in grievous accusations against him. 10 Whereunto Paul makes his defense with confession of his faith and religion. 22 Felix defers the matter until the coming of Lysias. 23 In the meantime gives Paul more liberty. 24 Paul instructs him and his wife in certain articles of the faith. 26 And is often sent for him, in hope to get money. 27 And left in prison to please the Jews.
AND after 1five days Ananias thea high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain 2orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very 3worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,b
We 4accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy 5clemency a few words.
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the 6sect of the 7Nazarenes:
Whoc also hath gone about to profane 8the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with 9great violence took him away out of our hands,
Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining 10of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
And 11the Jews also 12assented, saying that these things were so.
Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of 13many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for 14myself:
Because that thou 15mayest understand, that there are yet but 16twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
Andd they neither found me in the temple 17disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Neither can they 18prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
But this I confess unto thee, that after 19the way which they call 20heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be 21a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and 22unjust.
Ande23herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Now 24after many years I came tof bring alms to 25my nation, and 26offerings.
Whereupong certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
Except it be for this one 27voice, that I 28cried standing among them, Touchingh the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge 29of that way, he deferred them, and 30said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have 31liberty, andi that he should forbid none of 32his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife 33Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix 34trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
He hoped also that 35money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
But after 36two years 37Porcius Festus came into Felix’ 38room: and Felix, willingj to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.