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Acts 24

1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an advocate named Tertullus. They brought their case against Paul before the governor. 2When Paul was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Through you we enjoy great peace, and through your foresight reforms are being made for this nation. 3In every way and everywhere we receive this with all gratitude, most excellent Felix. 4But so that I do not detain you further, I ask you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5For we have found this man a plague, stirring up uprisings among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him. 8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.” 9The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that you have been judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense. 11You can ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or throughout the city. 13Nor can they prove to you what they now accuse me of. 14But this I confess to you: according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down in the law and written in the prophets, 15having a hope in God which these men themselves also await, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16For this reason I too strive always to have a conscience without offense before God and people.

17“After several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and offerings. 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without a crowd or disturbance. 19But some Jews from Asia ought to be here before you and bring an accusation if they have anything against me. 20Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21other than this one statement I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today.’”

22Felix, who had a more accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody but allow him some freedom, and not prevent any of his own people from attending to him. 24After some days Felix came with his own wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and heard him about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As he discussed righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and answered, “Go away for now. When I have an opportunity, I will send for you.” 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, so he sent for him more frequently and conversed with him. 27After two years passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Wishing to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.

Translation notes 4

24:1–5 — Advocacy and accusation. Tertullus's praise is courtroom rhetoric attributed to him. “Plague” retains the personal insult; it does not assert that Paul carried a disease. “Sect” is a party or school, not necessarily the later theological category “heresy.” Nazarenes is the opponents' name for the movement.

24:6–8 — The missing verse 7. The base omits an expansion after “we seized him”: “And we wanted to judge him according to our law. But Lysias the commander came and with great force took him from our hands, ordering his accusers to come before you.” This includes part of verse 6, all verse 7, and part of verse 8 in traditional numbering. Strong early evidence favors the shorter form. The full addition is preserved here; the main narrative continues directly to the examination statement.

24:14–21 — Way and hope. Paul distinguishes his own allegiance from his accusers' label. Both righteous and unrighteous are included in the resurrection hope. The speech shifts construction around the absent Asian accusers in verses 18–19; the English completes the connection without adding testimony from them.

24:24–27 — Faith and delay. “Christ Jesus” is retained in this name order. The judgment discussion and Felix's hoped-for payment both remain. The narrator does not say that Paul paid money or that the promised later hearing took place.