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24:1  Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They brought formal charges against Paul to the governor.
24:2  When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We are enjoying a long period of peace because of you, most excellent Felix, and reforms are coming to this nation because of your foresight.
24:3  In every way and in every place, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
24:4  But in order not to detain you any longer, I beg you in your kindness to give us a brief hearing.
24:5  For we have found this man to be a public menace, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the Nazarene sect.
24:6  He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
24:8  By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these accusations we are bringing against him.”
24:9  The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
24:10  When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
24:11  You can verify for yourself that it was no more than twelve days ago when I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
24:12  They did not find me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.
24:13  And they cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against me.
24:14  “But I do confess to you that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything written throughout the Law and in the Prophets;
24:15  and I have the same hope in God that these men have, that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
24:16  This is the reason I continue to do my best to have a clear conscience toward both God and people.
24:17  “After several years, I came to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.
24:18  While I was doing these things, they found me ceremonially purified in the temple, without a crowd or disturbance.
24:19  But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who ought to be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
24:20  Or let these men here state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
24:21  unless this is about the one thing I shouted while standing in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
24:22  Then Felix, because he was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the proceedings. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.”
24:23  He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.
24:24  Several days later, Felix appeared in public with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
24:25  While Paul instructed him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and replied, “Leave me for now, but when it is convenient, I will send for you.”
24:26  At the same time, he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for him as often as possible and talked with him.
24:27  After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Portius Festus. But because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.