Acts 24

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

1And aafter five days the high priest bAnanias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before cthe governor their case against Paul. 2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, dmost excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
3in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4But, to detain
Or weary
you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
5For we have found this man a plague, fone who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of gthe sect of the Nazarenes. 6 hHe even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
Some manuscripts add and we would have judged him according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come before you.
8By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

9The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

10And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
11You can verify that jit is not more than twelve days since I kwent up lto worship in Jerusalem, 12and mthey did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 nNeither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14But this I confess to you, that according to othe Way, which they call pa sect, qI worship rthe God of our fathers, believing everything slaid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 thaving ua hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be va resurrection wof both the just and the unjust. 16So I always xtake pains to have a yclear conscience toward both God and man. 17Now zafter several years aaI came to bring alms to abmy nation and to present acofferings. 18While I was doing this, they found me adpurified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But aesome Jews from Asia 19 afthey ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. 20Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, 21other than this one thing agthat I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul Kept in Custody

22But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of ahthe Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23Then he gave orders to the centurion that he aishould be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that ajnone of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

24After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about akfaith alin Christ Jesus. 25And as he reasoned amabout righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. anWhen I get an opportunity I will summon you.” 26At the same time he hoped aothat money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius apFestus. And aqdesiring to do the Jews a favor, arFelix left Paul in prison.

Acts 25

Paul Appeals to Caesar

1Now three days after Festus had arrived in asthe province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. 2And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews atlaid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, 3asking as a favor against Paul
Greek him
that he summon him to Jerusalem—because avthey were planning an ambush to kill him on the way.
4Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 5So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

6After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on awthe tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 7When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him axthat they could not prove. 8Paul argued in his defense, “Neither ayagainst azthe law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor baagainst Caesar have I committed any offense.” 9But Festus, bbwishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” 10But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s bctribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. 11If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. bdI appeal to Caesar.” 12Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Paul Before Agrippa and Bernice

13Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus. 14And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying, be“There is a man left prisoner by Felix, 15and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews laid out their case bfagainst him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. 16 bgI answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone bhbefore the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him. 17 biSo when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on bjthe tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 18When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. 19Rather they bkhad certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about bla certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 20Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I bmasked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them. 21But bnwhen Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of bothe emperor, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.” 22Then bpAgrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.”

23So on the next day bqAgrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom brthe whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, bsshouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25But I found that bthe had done nothing deserving death. And buas he himself appealed to bvthe emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”

Copyright information for ESV