Acts 24-26

21st Century King James Version

24 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders and with him a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

² And when Paul was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by thee we enjoy much quietness, most noble Felix, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

³ we accept it always and in all places with all thankfulness.

⁴ Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear from us in thy clemency a few words.

⁵ For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

⁶ who also hath gone about profaning the temple. Him we took and would have judged according to our law.

⁷ But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

⁸ commanding his accusers to come unto thee, so that by examining him thyself, thou mayest have knowledge of all of these things whereof we accuse him.”

⁹ And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

¹⁰ Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered: “Inasmuch as I know that thou hast been for many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself.

¹¹ For thou mayest understand that there have been yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

¹² And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither stirring up the people, neither in the synagogues nor in the city.

¹³ Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

¹⁴ But this I confess unto thee, that according to the Way, which they call heresy, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.

¹⁵ And I have hope in God, which they themselves also hold, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

¹⁶ And herein do I exercise myself to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men.

¹⁷ “Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings,

¹⁸ whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult.

¹⁹ These ought to have been here before thee to object if they had aught against me;

²⁰ or else let these same say here if they have found any evildoing in me when I stood before the council,

²¹ unless it be for this one utterance that I cried out standing among them: ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am called into question by you this day.’”

²² And when Felix heard these things, having a more complete knowledge of that Way, he deferred the hearing and said, “When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.”

²³ And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, but to let him have some liberties, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintances to minister or come unto him.

²⁴ And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jew, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

²⁵ And as Paul reasoned about righteousness, temperance, and the Judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, “Go thy way for this time. When I have a convenient occasion I will call for thee.”

²⁶ He hoped also that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.

²⁷ But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’s position; and Felix, wanting to show the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.

25 Now when Festus had come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

² Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul and besought him,

³ desiring a favor against him: that he would have Paul brought to Jerusalem, so that they might lie in wait on the way to kill him.

⁴ But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.

⁵ “Let those therefore,” he said, “who among you are able, go down with me and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.”

⁶ And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea. And the next day, sitting in the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought.

⁷ And when he had come, the Jews who came down from Jerusalem stood round about and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove,

⁸ while Paul answered for himself: “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor yet against Caesar have I offended any thing at all.”

⁹ But Festus, desiring to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me?”

¹⁰ Then said Paul, “I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.

¹¹ For if I am an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death, I should not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.”

¹² Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go!”

¹³ Some days later, King Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

¹⁴ And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, “There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix,

¹⁵ about whom, when I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

¹⁶ To them I answered, ’It is not in the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die before he that is accused has the accusers face to face, and has license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.’

¹⁷ Therefore when they had come hither, without any delay on the morrow, I sat on the judgment seat and commanded the man to be brought forth,

¹⁸ against whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed,

¹⁹ but had certain questions against him concerning their own superstition and of one Jesus, who was dead and whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

²⁰ And because I was in doubt as to this manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged on these matters.

²¹ But when Paul appealed to be reserved for a hearing by Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I might send him to Caesar.”

²² Then Agrippa said unto Festus, “I would also hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “thou shalt hear him.”

²³ And on the morrow, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought forth.

²⁴ And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have applied to me, both at Jerusalem and also here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.

²⁵ But when I found that he hath committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

²⁶ Of him I have nothing certain to write unto my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O King Agrippa, that after we have examined him I might have something to write.

²⁷ For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also to specify the crimes laid against him.”

26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, “Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.” Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself:

² “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews,

³ especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, which was from the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, is known to all the Jews.

⁵ They knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.

⁶ And now I stand and am judged because of the hope of the promise made by God unto our fathers,

⁷ unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

⁸ Why should it be thought an incredible thing by you that God should raise the dead?

⁹ “I myself verily thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,

¹⁰ which things I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

¹¹ And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly maddened against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

¹² “Thereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

¹³ at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, brighter than the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those who journeyed with me.

¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

¹⁶ But rise and stand upon thy feet, for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose: to make thee a minister and a witness, both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee,

¹⁷ delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee,

¹⁸ to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith that is in Me.’

¹⁹ “Thereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,

²⁰ but showed first unto those at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

²¹ For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple and went about to kill me.

²² Having therefore obtained the help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said should come:

²³ that Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first who should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, thou art beside thyself! Much learning doth make thee mad!”

²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

²⁶ For the king himself knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner.

²⁷ King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, “Thou almost persuadest me to be a Christian.”

²⁹ And Paul said, “I would to God that not only thou, but also all who hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.”

³⁰ And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and also the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them.

³¹ And when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”

³² Then said Agrippa unto Festus, “This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Caesar.”