And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and with an orator, one Tertullus, and they brought charges to the governor against Paul.
And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that by your providence evils are corrected for this nation,
we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
But, so that I will not delay you any further, I beg you in your customary graciousness to hear us briefly.
For we have found this man to be a public enemy, and stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Moreover, he tried to profane the Temple, but we seized him. [[And we would have judged him according to our law.
But the commander, Lysias, came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
commanding his accusers to come before you.]] From whom you will be able, by examining him yourself, to find out exactly about all these things of which we accuse him.”
And the Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul answered, “Forasmuch as I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense.
You are able to verify that it is not more than 12 days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
and they did not find me in the Temple disputing with any one, or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.
Neither are they able to prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
But this I admit to you, that I serve the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are in accordance with the Law and the things that are written in the Prophets,
having a hope in God that these men also themselves look for: that there is about to be a resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous.
In view of this, I myself always strive to have a conscience that is without offense toward God and man.
“Now after many years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and offerings.
While I was thus engaged, purified in the Temple, with no crowd, nor with an uproar, certain Jews from the province of Asia found me—
who ought to have been here before you and to make an accusation, if they had anything against me.
Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
except it be for this one outcry that I shouted standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.’”
Paul Kept in Custody
But Felix, having a more exact knowledge concerning the Way, adjourned the proceedings, saying, “When Lysias, the commander, comes down, I will decide your case.”
And he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody, but given some freedom, and not to forbid any of his friends from attending to his needs.
But after some days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning trust in Christ Jesus.
And as he reasoned about righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened, and answered, “Go away for now, and when I find time I will call for you.”
At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and therefore he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.