Day 20

ACTS 24

1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a certain orator, Tertullus; and they gave their information against Paul to the governor.

2 And when Paul was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Since we have obtained much peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation through your forethought

3 Both in every way and everywhere, we welcome it, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

4 But that I may not detain you further, I entreat you to hear us briefly in your forbearance.

5 For we have found this man a pest and an agitator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

6 Who has also tried to profane the temple. Him also we laid hold of and wanted to judge according to our law,

7 But Lysias the commander came by and with much force took him away from our hands

8 And ordered his accusers to come to you. When you have examined this man yourself concerning all these things, you will be able to ascertain from him the things which we accuse him of.

9 And the Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.

10 And when the governor nodded for him to speak, Paul answered: Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I gladly make my defense for the things concerning myself,

11 Since you can realize that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12 And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with anyone nor stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city.

13 Neither are they able to prove to you the things which they now accuse me of.

14 But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets;

15 Having hope toward God, which these themselves also look for, that there is to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

16 Because of this I also exercise myself to always have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

17 Now after many years I came bringing alms to my nation and offerings;

18 In which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd or uproar. But certain Jews from Asia,

19 Who should have been present before you and made accusation if they had anything against me —

20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

21 Other than concerning this one sound which I cried out while standing among them, Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged today before you.

22 But Felix, knowing more accurately the things concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the commander comes down, I will determine your affairs.

23 And he directed the centurion to keep him in custody, and that he should have some liberty and that no one should prevent his own people from attending to him.

24 But after some days, Felix arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

25 And as he was reasoning concerning righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and answered, Go for the present, and when I have an opportunity, I will call for you;

26 Hoping at the same time also that money would be given to him by Paul. Therefore he also sent for him more frequently and conversed with him.

27 And when two years were completed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and wanting to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.

ACTS 25

1 Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.

2 And the chief priests and leading men of the Jews gave their information to him against Paul; and they entreated him,

3 Asking for a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem, they themselves setting an ambush to do away with him on the way.

4 Festus therefore answered that Paul was being kept in custody in Caesarea, and that he himself was about to proceed there shortly.

5 Therefore, he said, let influential men from among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong in the man, let them accuse him.

6 And having stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought.

7 And when he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they were not able to prove,

8 While Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews nor against the temple nor against Caesar have I sinned in anything.

9 But Festus, wanting to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be judged there before me concerning these things?

10 And Paul said, I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

11 If therefore I am doing wrong and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to the things which these accuse me of, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.

12 Then when Festus had conferred with the council, he answered, To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.

13 Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.

14 And while they were staying some additional days there, Festus laid before the king the matters regarding Paul, saying, There is a certain man who has been left a prisoner by Felix,

15 Concerning whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews gave information and asked for a sentence against him.

16 To them I answered that it is not the custom with Romans to hand over any man before he who is accused meets the accusers face to face and has an opportunity for a defense concerning the charge.

17 So when they had come together here, I made no delay; on the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, I ordered the man to be brought.

18 Concerning him the accusers stood and brought no charge of the evil things I was suspecting.

19 But they had certain questions against him concerning their own religion and concerning a certain Jesus who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

20 And being at a loss as to how there should be an inquiry concerning these things, I asked him if he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be judged there concerning these things.

21 But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I should send him up to Caesar.

22 And Agrippa said to Festus, I myself also would like to hear the man. Tomorrow, said Festus, you shall hear him.

23 Therefore on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered into the hall of audience together with the commanders and prominent men of the city, and when Festus had given the order, Paul was brought.

24 And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all you men who are present with us, you behold this man, concerning whom all the multitude of Jews have petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.

25 But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.

26 Concerning him I have nothing definite to write to my lord; therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that when the examination has taken place, I may have something to write.

27 For it seems unreasonable to me, in sending a prisoner, not to also signify the charges against him.