Acts 24:3-13

3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, ¹most 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 ²sect of the Nazarenes.

6 "And he even tried to ³desecrate 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 ⁴The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 When ⁵the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "K nowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than ⁶twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

12 "⁷Neither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or ⁸causing a riot.

13 "⁹Nor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me.

Cross References

• 1. Acts 23:26; Acts 26:25
• 2. Acts 15:5; Acts 24:14
• 3. Acts 21:28
• 4. 1 Thessalonians 2:16
• 5. Acts 23:24
• 6. Acts 21:18, 27; Acts 24:1
• 7. Acts 25:8
• 8. Acts 24:18
• 9. Acts 25:7

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "to hear...briefly"
• [b] Lit "the inhabited earth"
• [c] Lit "also"
• [d] The early mss do not contain the remainder of v 6, v 7, nor the first part of v 8
• [e] Lit "an attack of a mob"