| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. | 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. |
| 2And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: “Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, | 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, |
| 3we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. | 3in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. |
| 4Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. | 4But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. |
| 5For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. | 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. |
| 6He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. | 6He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. |
| 7But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, | 7 |
| 8commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.” | 8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.” |
| 9And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so. | 9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so. |
| 10Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself, | 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. |
| 11because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. | 11You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, |
| 12And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. | 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. |
| 13Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. | 13Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. |
| 14But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. | 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, |
| 15I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. | 15having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. |
| 16This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. | 16So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. |
| 17“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation, | 17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. |
| 18in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult. | 18While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— |
| 19They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me. | 19they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. |
| 20Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council, | 20Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, |
| 21unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.’ ” | 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.’” |
| 22But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.” | 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.” |
| 23So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. | 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. |
| 24And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. | 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. |
| 25Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” | 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.” |
| 26Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. | 26At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. |
| 27But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. | 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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. |
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