1 After afive days the high priest bAnanias came down with some elders, with an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought charges to cthe governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, amost excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 "But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the asect of the Nazarenes. 6 "And he even tried to adesecrate the temple; and then we arrested him. [We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 "But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." 9 aThe Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so. 10 When athe governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than atwelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 "aNeither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or bcausing a riot. 13 "aNor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 "But this I admit to you, that according to athe Way which they call a bsect I do serve cthe God of our fathers, dbelieving everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which athese men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 "In view of this, aI also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 "Now aafter several years I bcame to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been apurified, without any bcrowd or uproar. But there were some cJews from Asia-- 19 who ought to have been present before you and to amake accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 "Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before athe Council, 21 other than for this one statement which aI shouted out while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'" 22 But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about athe Way, put them off, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case." 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be akept in custody and yet bhave some freedom, and not to prevent any of chis friends from ministering to him. 24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about afaith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing arighteousness, bself-control and cthe judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that amoney would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius aFestus, and bwishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul cimprisoned.