1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with the elders and with a certain orator named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor.
2 And when Paul had been called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "Since through you we enjoy great peace, and very worthy deeds are being done for this nation by your foresight,
3 we accept it always and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But so that I may not be further tedious to you, I beg you of your clemency to hear us a few words.
5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow and a mover of strife among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes;
6 who also tried to profane the temple; and we seized him and wanted to judge him according to our law.
7 But Lysias the commander came and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
8 commanding his accusers to come before you. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him about all these things of which we accuse him."
9 And the Jews also assented, asserting that these things were so.
10 Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered: "Since I know that you have been for many years a judge to this nation, I make my defense for myself the more cheerfully,
11 since you can find out that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship;
12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple, or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or throughout the city;
13 nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets,
15 having a hope toward God, which these men themselves also await, that there is going to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust.
16 And in this I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings;
18 in the midst of which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a crowd nor with tumult.
19 They ought to have been present before you to make accusation, if they had anything against me.
20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the council,
21 unless it is for this one voice that I cried out standing among them: 'Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you today.'"
22 And when Felix heard these things, having more exact knowledge of the Way, he deferred them, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will determine your matter."
23 And he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and to forbid none of his own people to minister to him or come to him.
24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, "Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you."
26 At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given him by Paul, so that he might release him; therefore he sent for him often and talked with him.
27 But when two years had been completed, Felix received Porcius Festus as his successor; and wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul bound.