Paul’s Defense before Felix

¹⁰ When the governor motioned for 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.^{(A) 11} You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^{(B) 12} They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^{(C) 13} Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way,^(D) which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.^{(E) 15} I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection,^[a](F) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^{(G) 16} I always strive to have a clear conscience^(H) toward God and men. ¹⁷ After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people.^{(I) 18} While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.^{(J) 19} It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’”

The Verdict Postponed

²² Since Felix was well informed about the Way,^(K) he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 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 meeting^[b] his needs.^(L)

²⁴ Several days later, 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. ²⁵ Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,^(M) Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money.^[c] So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

²⁷ After two years had passed, Porcius Festus^(N) succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor,^(O) he left Paul in prison.^(P)

Appeal to Caesar

25 Three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.^{(A) 2} The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews presented their case against Paul to him; and they appealed,^{(B) 3} asking for a favor against Paul, that Festus summon him to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, preparing an ambush along the road to kill him. ⁴ Festus, however, answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to go there shortly.^{(C) 5} “Therefore,” he said, “let those of you who have authority go down with me and accuse him, if he has done anything wrong.”

⁶ When he had spent not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea. The next day, seated at the tribunal, he commanded Paul to be brought in.^{(D) 7} When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him and brought many serious charges that they were not able to prove.^{(E) 8} Then Paul made his defense: “Neither against the Jewish law,^(F) nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I sinned in any way.”

⁹ But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor,^(G) replied to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to be tried before me there on these charges?”

¹⁰ Paul replied, “I am standing at Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as even you yourself know very well. ¹¹ If then I did anything wrong and am deserving of death, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to what these men accuse me of, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar!” ^(H)

¹² Then after Festus conferred with his council, he replied, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go.”

Paul before Agrippa

²³ So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice^(A) came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.^{(B) 25} I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.^{(C) 26} I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”