24Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.G1161G3326G4002G2250G367G749G2597G3326G4245G2532G5100G4489G5061G3748G1718G2232G2596G39722When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: "Your Excellency, you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.G1161G846G2564G5061G756G2723G3004G1223G4675G5177G4183G1515G2532G2735G1096G5129G1484G1223G4674G43073For all of this we are very grateful to you.G5037G588G3839G2532G3837G2903G5344G3326G3956G21694But I don't want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.G1161G3363G4119G3363G1909G4119G1465G4571G3870G4571G191G2257G4674G1932G49355We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.G1063G2147G5126G435G3061G2532G2795G4714G3956G2453G2596G3625G5037G4414G139G34806Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.G3739G2532G3985G953G2411G2532G3739G2902G2532G2309G2919G2596G2251G35517G1161G5506G3079G3928G3326G4183G970G520G1537G2257G54958You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."G2753G846G2725G2064G1909G4571G350G3844G3739G846G1410G1921G4012G3956G5130G3739G2249G2723G8469Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.G1161G2453G2532G4934G5335G5023G2192G377910The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.G1161G3972G2232G3506G846G3004G611G1987G4571G5607G1537G4183G2094G2923G5129G1484G626G2115G626G4012G168311You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.G4675G1410G1097G3754G1526G2228G3756G1177G2250G4119G575G3739G3427G305G1722G2419G435212My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.G2532G3777G2147G3165G1722G2411G1256G4314G5100G2228G1999G4160G3793G1999G3777G1722G4864G3777G2596G417213These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.G3777G1410G3936G3165G4012G3739G2723G3568G2723G345014"But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.G1161G5124G3670G4671G3754G2596G3598G3739G3004G139G3779G3000G2316G3971G4100G3956G3588G1125G2596G3551G2532G1722G439615I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.G2192G1680G1519G2316G3739G3778G846G2532G4327G3195G1510G386G3498G5037G1342G2532G9416Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.G1161G1722G5129G778G846G2192G1275G4893G677G4314G2316G2532G44417"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.G1161G1223G4119G2094G3854G4160G1654G1519G3450G1484G2532G437618My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.G1161G1722G3739G5100G2453G575G773G2147G3165G48G1722G2411G3756G3326G3793G3761G3326G235119But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!G3739G1163G1163G3918G1909G4675G2532G2723G1536G2192G1536G4314G316520Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of,G2228G2036G846G3778G2036G1536G2147G1536G92G1722G1698G3450G2476G1909G489221except for the one time I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"G2228G4012G5026G3391G5456G3739G2896G2476G1722G846G3754G4012G386G3498G1473G2919G5259G5216G459422At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, "Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case."G1161G5344G191G5023G197G1492G4012G3598G306G846G2036G3752G3079G5506G2597G1231G5209G259623He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.G5037G1299G1543G5083G3972G5037G2192G425G2532G2967G3367G846G2398G5256G2228G4334G84624A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.G1161G3326G5100G2250G5344G3854G4862G846G1135G1409G5607G2453G3343G3972G2532G191G846G4012G4102G1519G554725As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. "Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."G1161G846G1256G4012G1343G2532G1466G2532G2917G3195G1510G5344G1096G1719G611G4198G3568G1161G2192G3335G2540G3333G457126He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.G1679G260G1161G2532G3754G5536G1325G846G5259G3972G3704G3089G846G1352G3343G846G4437G2532G3656G84627After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.G1161G4137G1333G4201G5347G2983G5344G1240G5037G5344G2309G2698G2453G5485G2641G3972G1210
Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.G1161
