1Paul is accused before Felix by Tertullus in the name of the Jews: 10he answereth in defence of his life and doctrine. 22The hearing is deferred. 24Paul preaching freely before the governor and his wife, Felix trembleth. 26Felix hopeth for a bribe to release Paul, but in vain; and going out of his office leaveth him bound.
1AND aafter five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who binformed the governor against Paul.
a ch. 23.2,30,35; 25.2,17. b Ps. 11.2.
2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him , saying, cSeeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy *providence,
*providence-forethought.
c Ps. 12.2; 55.21. Jude 16.
3We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
5dFor 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 sect of the Nazarenes:
d ch. 6.13; 16.20; 17.6,7; 21.28. Lu. 23.2. 1Ki. 18.17.
6eWho also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
e ch. 19.37; 21.26-28,31; 22.10. v.11-13. ch. 25.8. Jn. 18.31.
7fBut the chief captain Lysias came upon us , and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
f ch. 21.31-33; 22.30; 23.10,27.
8gCommanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.
g ch. 23.30; 25.16.
9hAnd the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
h Ps. 4.2; 64.3. Je. 9.3-5. Jn. 8.44.
10Then Paul, after that the governor had ibeckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully janswer for myself:
i ch. 12.17; 13.16; 19.33; 21.40. j 1Pe. 3.15.
11kBecause that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
k v.1. ch. 21.15,18,26,27.
12lAnd they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
l ch. 25.7,8; 28.17.
13mNeither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
m 1Pe. 3.16.
14But this I confess unto thee, nthat after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, obelieving all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
n Mat. 10.32. Ps. 119.46. ch. 3.13; 5.30; 7.32; 22.14; 26.22; 28.22; 9.2. Mi. 4.5. 2Ti. 1.3. o ch. 10.43; 13.15; 26.22,23; 28.23. Mat. 22.40. Lu. 16.16; 24.27,44. Jn. 1.45; 5.39. Ro. 3.21. 2Co. 1.20.
15pAnd have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a qresurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
p ch. 23.6-8. Da. 12.2. Jn. 5.28,29. 1Co. 15.12-27. ch. 26.6-8; 28.20. Re. 20.6,12,13. Job 19.25,26. 1Th. 4.14-16. Mat. 22.31,32. q v.21.
16rAnd herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
r 1Ti. 4.7,8. 1Th. 2.10. ch. 23.1. 1Co. 4.4. 2Co. 1.12; 4.2. 2Ti. 1.3. He. 13.18.
17Now after smany years I came to bring talms to my nation, and offerings.
s ch. 18.22,23; 19.8,10; 20.31. t ch. 11.29,30; 20.16. Ro. 15.25-28. Ga. 2.10. 1Co. 16.1,3. 2Co. 8.4; 9.1,12. ch. 21.26.
18uWhereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
u ch. 21.26,27; 26.21. Lu. 12.1.
19vWho ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
v ch. 23.30; 25.16.
20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, wwhile I stood before the council,
w ch. 22.30.
21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, xTouching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.
x ch. 23.6; 26.6,9; 28.20.
22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of ythat way, he deferred them, and said, When zLysias the chief captain shall come down, *I awill know the uttermost of your matter.
*I will know the uttermost of-I will decide.
y ch. 9.2. z v.7. a De. 19.18. ch. 23.20.
23bAnd he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
b Pr. 16.7. v.26. ch. 27.3; 28.16,31.
24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the cfaith in Christ.
c Tit. 2.11,12. 2Co. 7.1.
25And as he reasoned of drighteousness, etemperance, and fjudgment to come, Felix gtrembled, and answered, hGo thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
d Pr. 16.12. Je. 22.15-17. Da. 4.27. Jn. 16.8. e Pr. 31.4,5. Da. 5.1-4. Ho. 7.5. 1Pe. 4.4. f Ps. 50.3,4. Da. 12.2. Mat. 25.31-46. 2Co. 5.10. Re. 20.12. g ch. 2.37. Ps. 99.1. Is. 32.11. Hab. 3.16. He. 4.1,11,12. Ro. 3.19,20. ch. 17.32. h Pr. 1.24-32. Mat. 22.5; 25.1-10.
26iHe hoped also that jmoney should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.
i Ex. 23.8. Job 15.34. Ps. 26.10. 1Ti. 6.10. j v.17.
27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, kwilling to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.
k ch. 12.3; 25.9,14. Mar. 15.15. Ga. 1.10. Pr. 29.25.