| English Standard Version | King James Bible |
| 1And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. | 1And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. |
| 2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, | 2And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, |
| 3in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. | 3We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. |
| 4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. | 4Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. |
| 5For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. | 5For 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: |
| 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. | 6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. |
| 7 | 7But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, |
| 8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” | 8Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. |
| 9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. | 9And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. |
| 10And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. | 10Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned 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 answer for myself: |
| 11You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, | 11Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. |
| 12and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. | 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: |
| 13Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. | 13Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. |
| 14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, | 14But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: |
| 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. | 15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. |
| 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. | 16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. |
| 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. | 17Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. |
| 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— | 18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. |
| 19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. | 19Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. |
| 20Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, | 20Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, |
| 21other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’” | 21Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. |
| 22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” | 22And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. |
| 23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. | 23And 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. |
| 24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. | 24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. |
| 25And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” | 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. |
| 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. | 26He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. |
| 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. | 27But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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