1 Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a prosecuting attorney, Tertullus, and through him they presented their case against Paul before the governor.
2 When Paul was called, Tertullus opened the prosecution by saying: "Your Excellency, Felix, since we are enjoying perfect peace through you and since reforms for this nation are being brought about through your foresight,
3 we always and everywhere acknowledge it with profound gratitude.
4 But, not to detain you too long, I beg you in your kindness to give us a brief hearing.
5 For we have found this man a perfect pest and a distributor of the peace among the Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader in the sect of the Nazarenes;
6 once he tried to desecrate the temple, but we arrested him,
7 Omitted Text.
8 and now, by examining him for yourself, you can find out exactly what charges we bring against him."
9 The Jews also joined in the charges and maintained that they were true.
10 At the governor's signal to Paul, he answered: "Since I know that you for many years have acted as judge for this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,
11 for you can verify the fact that not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship,
12 and they have never found me debating with anybody in the temple nor making a disturbance in the synagogues or about the city,
13 and they cannot prove the charges they have just made against me.
14 But I certainly admit this as a fact that in accordance with The Way -- that they call heresy -- I continue to worship the God of my forefathers, and I still believe in everything taught in the law and written in the prophets,
15 and I have the same hope in God that they cherish for themselves, that there is to be a resurrection of the upright and the wicked.
16 So I am always striving to have a conscience that is clear before God and men.
17 After several years' absence I came to bring contributions of charity for my nation, and to offer sacrifices.
18 While I was performing these duties they found me just as I had completed the rites of my purification in the temple; however, there was no crowd with me and no disturbance at all.
19 But there were some Jews from Asia who ought to be here before you and to present their charges, if they have any, against me.
20 Or let these men themselves tell what wrong they found in me when I appeared before the council --
21 unless it is for one thing that I shouted out as I stood among them, 'It is for the resurrection of the dead that I am here on trial before you today.'"
22 Then Felix, who had a fairly clear conception of the principles involved in The Way, adjourned the trial, saying to the Jews, "When Lysias, the colonel, comes down here, I will carefully look into your case."
23 He ordered the captain to keep Paul in custody but to let him have freedom and not to prevent his friends from showing him kindness.
24 Some days later, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But as he continued to talk about uprightness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became alarmed, and said, "For the present you may go, but when I find a good opportunity, I will send for you."
26 At the same time he was hoping to get money from Paul, and so he kept on sending for him and talking with him.