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24:1  After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.
24:2  When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight,
24:3  we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude.
24:4  However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.
24:5  For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!
24:6  He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him and wanted to judge him according to our law.
24:7  But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force,
24:8  commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of."
24:9  The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.
24:10  When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.
24:11  You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
24:12  They didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.
24:13  Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me.
24:14  But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
24:15  And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
24:16  I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
24:17  After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,
24:18  and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.
24:19  It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me.
24:20  Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
24:21  or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, 'Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.'"
24:22  Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."
24:23  He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving him.
24:24  After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus.
24:25  Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you."
24:26  At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.
24:27  After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus, and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul in prison.