1 ARST Then, five days after the Roman soldiers brought Paul to Caesarea, the Jewish high priest Ananias traveled there from Jerusalem. He brought some other Jewish elders with him. They also brought a man who spoke well and knew the Roman laws well. His name was Tertullus. The Jewish leaders wanted him to persuade the governor that he should punish Paul. BSB BSB: Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
2 ARST So the governor commanded his soldiers to bring Paul in. When Paul arrived, Tertullus started arguing that Felix should punish him. He said to the governor,“During the time that you have ruled us, we have lived well. By planning wisely, you have made many things better for our Jewish people. BSB BSB: When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.
3 ARST Therefore, Honorable Governor Felix, we continually thank you for everything that you have done for us, wherever you have done those things. BSB BSB: In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
4 ARST But so that I do not use too much of your time, I will speak briefly. Please listen to what I have to say. I know you will make the right decision about this case. BSB BSB: But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.
5 ARST Now we can assure you that this man causes trouble wherever he goes. He encourages all the Jews to rebel against you Romans. He leads a radical group within Judaism. The members of that group call themselves the Nazarenes. BSB BSB: We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
6 ARST He even tried to make our temple in Jerusalem no longer holy. And that is why we arrested him.[And we wanted to judge him according to our law. BSB BSB: and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
7 ARST But Lysias, the commander of the Roman fortress, came with his soldiers and took him away from us, BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
8 ARST sending us to you.] If you question him yourself about all these matters, you will be able to learn that everything I am saying about him is true.” BSB BSB: By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”
9 ARST Then the Jewish leaders who had come to Caesarea accused Paul too. They insisted that what Tertullus said about him was true. BSB BSB: The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.
10 ARST Then the governor signaled with his hand that he wanted Paul to speak. So Paul spoke to defend himself. He said,“Governor Felix, I know that you have governed this Jewish province for many years. Therefore I am eager to defend myself to you{ because I know that you will listen to me and will judge me fairly}. BSB BSB: When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
11 ARST You can easily confirm that I went to Jerusalem to worship God just 12 days ago. BSB BSB: You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 ARST No one can say truthfully that they saw me arguing with anyone in the temple courts, because I did not do that. No one can say truthfully that they saw me causing people to riot in any Jewish synagogue or causing trouble anywhere else in Jerusalem, because I did not do that. BSB BSB: Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
13 ARST So they cannot prove to you the things of which they are now accusing me. BSB BSB: Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.
14 ARST But I admit to you that this is true: I live as Jesus taught us to live. They claim that makes me different from other Jews, but that is how I obey the God whom our Jewish ancestors worshiped. I also believe everything that Moses wrote in the laws that God gave him and everything that the prophets wrote in their books. BSB BSB: I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
15 ARST I believe, just as these men also believe, that some day God will cause everyone who has died to live again. God will do this both for those who were good and for those who were wicked. BSB BSB: and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16 ARST Because I believe that day will come, I always try to do what pleases God and what other people think is right. BSB BSB: In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
17 ARST Let me tell you why I was in Jerusalem. After I had been in other places for several years, I returned there to bring some money to help my fellow Jews who were poor. While I was there, I also offered sacrifices in the temple courtyard. BSB BSB: After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
18 ARST Some Jews from Asia saw me offering those sacrifices in the temple courtyard. I had completed the ritual that allowed me to worship God there. There was no crowd with me. I was not causing anyone to riot. BSB BSB: At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
19 ARST No, it was those Jews from the province of Asia who caused the people to riot! And they should really be here in your court to accuse me if they think that I have done anything wrong. BSB BSB: who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
20 ARST But if they do not want to do that, these Jewish men who are here should tell you what they think I did that was wrong when I defended myself in their council. BSB BSB: Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
21 ARST They might say that I did this one thing wrong: When I was in their council, I shouted,‘You are judging me today because I believe that God will cause all the people who have died to live again.’” BSB BSB: unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
22 ARST Now Felix already knew much about the group people called the Way, and so he stopped the trial. He said to the Jewish leaders,“Later, when Commander Lysias comes here, I will decide this case.” BSB BSB: Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”
23 ARST Then Governor Felix told the officer who was guarding Paul to take Paul back to the prison. But he told him to allow Paul to do things freely in the prison. He also said that if Paul’ s friends came to visit him, the officer should allow them to help Paul in any way that they wanted to. BSB BSB: He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.
24 ARST But several days later Felix came back with his wife Drusilla. She was a Jew. Felix called for Paul to speak with him. He{ and Drusilla} listened to what Paul said about trusting in Jesus the Messiah. BSB BSB: After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
25 ARST Paul talked about what God wants people to do in order to please him. Paul also explained how people should control how they act. Paul said that there would be a time when God would judge all people. Felix became afraid after hearing those things. So he said to Paul,“That is all I want to hear now. But when I have time, I will ask you to come to me again.” BSB BSB: As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
26 ARST Felix was also hoping that Paul would give him some money. So he sent for Paul to come to him many times. Paul talked with Felix every time{, but he did not give him any money, so Felix did not tell his soldiers to release Paul from prison}. BSB BSB: At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
27 ARST This went on for about two years. Then a man named Porcius Festus replaced Felix as the governor. And since Felix wanted to please the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison. BSB BSB: After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.