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24:1  Five days later Ananias, the high priest, went to the city of Caesarea. With him were some of the Jewish elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They had come to make charges against Paul before the governor.
24:2  Paul was called into the meeting, and Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Most Excellent Felix! Our people enjoy much peace because of you, and many wrong things in our country are being made right through your wise help.
24:3  We accept these things always and in every place. And we are thankful for them.
24:4  But I do not want to take any more of your time. I beg you to be kind and listen to our few words.
24:5  This man is a troublemaker. He makes trouble among the Jews everywhere in the world. He is a leader of the Nazarene group.
24:6  Also, he was trying to make the Temple unclean, but we stopped him. [And we wanted to judge him by our own law.
24:7  But the officer Lysias came and used much force to take him from us. And Lysias commanded his people to come to you to accuse us.]
24:8  You can decide if all these things are true. Ask him some questions yourself.”
24:9  The other Jews agreed and said that all of this was true.
24:10  The governor made a sign for Paul to speak. So Paul said, “Governor Felix, I know that you have been a judge over this nation for a long time. So I am happy to defend myself before you.
24:11  I went to worship in Jerusalem only 12 days ago. You can learn for yourself that this is true.
24:12  Those who are accusing me did not find me arguing with anyone in the Temple. I was not stirring up the people. And I was not making trouble in the Temple or in the synagogues or in the city.
24:13  They cannot prove the things they are saying against me now.
24:14  But I will tell you this: I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way of Jesus. The Jews say that the Way of Jesus is not the right way. But I believe everything that is taught in the law of Moses and that is written in the books of the Prophets.
24:15  I have the same hope in God that they have—the hope that all people, good and bad, will be raised from death.
24:16  This is why I always try to do what I believe is right before God and men.
24:17  “I was away from Jerusalem for several years. I went back there to bring money to my people and to offer sacrifices.
24:18  I was doing this when they found me in the Temple. I had finished the cleansing ceremony. I had not made any trouble; no people were gathering around me.
24:19  But some Jews from Asia were there. They should be here, standing before you. If I have really done anything wrong, they are the ones who should accuse me.
24:20  Or ask these Jews here if they found any wrong in me when I stood before the Jewish council in Jerusalem.
24:21  But I did say one thing when I stood before them: ‘You are judging me today because I believe that people will rise from death!’”
24:22  Felix already understood much about the Way of Jesus. He stopped the trial and said, “When commander Lysias comes here, I will decide about your case.”
24:23  Felix told the officer to keep Paul guarded. But he told the officer to give Paul some freedom and to let his friends bring what he needed.
24:24  After some days Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was a Jew. He asked for Paul to be brought to him. He listened to Paul talk about believing in Christ Jesus.
24:25  But Felix became afraid when Paul spoke about things like right living, self-control, and the time when God will judge the world. He said, “Go away now. When I have more time, I will call for you.”
24:26  At the same time Felix hoped that Paul would give him some money. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him.
24:27  But after two years, Porcius Festus became governor. Felix was no longer governor, but he had left Paul in prison to please the Jews.