Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They pressed charges against Paul before the governor.
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Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.
2 After the governor summoned Paul, Tertullus began to make his case against him. He declared, "Under your leadership, we have experienced substantial peace, and your administration has brought reforms to our nation.
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When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight.
3 Always and everywhere, most honorable Felix, we acknowledge this with deep gratitude.
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We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude.
4 I don't want to take too much of your time, so I ask that you listen with your usual courtesy to our brief statement of the facts.
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But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.
5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the empire. He's a ringleader of the Nazarene faction
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We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 and even tried to defile the temple. That's when we arrested him.
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He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him.
8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to verify the allegations we are bringing against him."
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By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him."
9 The Jews reinforced the action against Paul, affirming the truth of these accusations.
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The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.
10 The governor nodded at Paul, giving him permission to speak. He responded, "I know that you have been judge over this nation for many years, so I gladly offer my own defense.
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When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation.
11 You can verify that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago.
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As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12 They didn't find me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd, whether in the synagogue or anywhere else in the city.
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They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.
13 Nor can they prove to you the allegations they are now bringing against me.
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Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.
14 I do admit this to you, that I am a follower of the Way, which they call a faction. Accordingly, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe everything set out in the Law and written in the Prophets.
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But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.
15 The hope I have in God I also share with my accusers, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
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I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
16 On account of this, I have committed myself to maintaining a clear conscience before God and with all people.
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Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.
17 After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring gifts for the poor of my nation and to offer sacrifices.
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Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices.
18 When they found me in the temple, I was ritually pure. There was no crowd and no disturbance.
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While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.
19 But there were some Jews from the province of Asia. They should be here making their accusations, if indeed they have something against me.
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But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.
20 In their absence, have these people who are here declare what crime they found when I stood before the Jerusalem Council.
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Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council,
21 Perhaps it concerns this one statement that I blurted out when I was with them: ‘I am on trial before you today because of the resurrection of the dead.'"
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unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, "It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.' "
22 Felix, who had an accurate understanding of the Way, adjourned the meeting. He said, "When Lysias the commander arrives from Jerusalem, I will decide this case."
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But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case."
23 He arranged for a centurion to guard Paul. He was to give Paul some freedom, and his friends were not to be hindered in their efforts to provide for him.
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Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.
24 After several days, Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and summoned Paul. He listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.
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Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus.
25 When he spoke about upright behavior, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became fearful and said, "Go away for now! When I have time, I'll send for you."
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And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."
26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him some money, so he often sent for him and talked with him.
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At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Since Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
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After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.