Acts 24

¹And after five days the high priest Ananias descended, with certain ancients and one Tertullus an orator, who went to the President against Paul.

²And Paul being cited, Tertullus began to accuse, saying: Whereas we live in much peace by thee, & many things are corrected by thy providence,

³we do always & in all places receive it, most excellent Felix, with all thanks-giving.

⁴But lest I hinder thee any longer, I desire thee of thy clemency briefly to hear us.

⁵We have found this man pestiferous, & raising seditions to all the Jews in the whole world, and author of the sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes.

⁶Who also hath attempted to violate the temple, whom also being apprehended we would have judged according to our law.

⁷But Lysias the Tribune coming in, with great force took him away out of our hands,

⁸commanding his accusers to come to thee, of whom thou mayest thyself judging, understand of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

⁹And the Jews also added, saying that these things were so.

¹⁰But Paul answered: (the President making a sign unto him for to speak) Knowing that of many years thou art judge over this nation, I will with good courage answer for myself.

¹¹For thou mayest understand that it is not above twelve days to me, since I went up to adore in Jerusalem.

¹²And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man, or causing concourse of the multitude, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

¹³neither can they prove unto thee the things whereof they now accuse me.

¹⁴But this I confess to thee, that according to the sect, which they call heresy, I do so serve the Father my God, believing all things that are written in the Law & the Prophets:

¹⁵having hope in God, the which these also themselves expect, that there shall be a resurrection of just and unjust.

¹⁶In this myself also do study to have a conscience without offence toward God and toward men always.

¹⁷And after many years I came to bestow alms upon my nation, & oblations, and vows.

¹⁸In the which they found me purified in the temple: not with multitude nor with tumult.

¹⁹But certain Jews of Asia, who ought to be present before thee and to accuse, if they had any thing against me:

²⁰or let these men themselves say, if they have found in me any iniquity, forasmuch as I stand in the Council,

²¹but of this one voice only that I cried standing among them, That of the resurrection of the dead am I judged this day of you.

²²And Felix deferred them, knowing most certainly of this way, saying: When Lysias the Tribune is come down, I will hear you.

²³And he commanded the Centurion to keep him, and that he should have rest, neither to prohibit any of his to minister unto him.

²⁴And after some days, Felix coming with Drusilla his wife, which was a Jew, called Paul, and heard of him the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

²⁵And he disputing of justice and chastity, and of the judgement to come, Felix being terrified, answered: For this time, go thy way: but in time convenient I will send for thee.

²⁶hoping also withal, that money would be given him of Paul; for the which cause also oftentimes sending for him, he spake with him.

²⁷But when two years were ended, Felix had a Successor Portius Festus. And Felix being willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul in prison.