English Standard Version ESV
The Darby Translation DBY
1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
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And after five days came down the high priest Ananias, with the elders, and a certain orator called Tertullus, and laid their informations against Paul before the governor.
2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
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And he having been called, Tertullus began to accuse, saying, Seeing we enjoy great peace through thee, and that excellent measures are executed for this nation by thy forethought,
3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.
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we receive [it] always and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
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But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.
5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
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For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;
6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
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who also attempted to profane the temple; whom we also had seized, [and would have judged according to our law;
8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him. ”
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having commanded his accusers to come to thee;] of whom thou canst thyself, in examining [him], know the certainty of all these things of which we accuse him.
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
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And the Jews also joined in pressing the matter against [Paul], saying that these things were so.
10 And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
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But Paul, the governor having beckoned to him to speak, answered, Knowing that for many years thou hast been judge to this nation, I answer readily as to the things which concern myself.
11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
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As thou mayest know that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem,
12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.
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and neither in the temple did they find me discoursing to any one, or making any tumultuous gathering together of the crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city;
13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
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neither can they make good the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
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But this I avow to thee, that in the way which they call sect, so I serve my fathers' God, believing all things which are written throughout the law, and in the prophets;
15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
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having hope towards God, which they themselves also receive, that there is to be a resurrection both of just and unjust.
16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
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For this cause I also exercise [myself] to have in everything a conscience without offence towards God and men.
17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
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And after a lapse of many years I arrived, bringing alms to my nation, and offerings.
18 While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—
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Whereupon they found me purified in the temple, with neither crowd nor tumult. But it was certain Jews from Asia,
19 they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.
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who ought to appear before thee and accuse, if they have anything against me;
20 Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
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or let these themselves say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the council,
21 other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day. ’”
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[other] than concerning this one voice which I cried standing amongst them: I am judged this day by you touching [the] resurrection of [the] dead.
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case. ”
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And Felix, knowing accurately the things concerning the way, adjourned them, saying, When Lysias the chiliarch is come down I will determine your affair;
23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
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ordering the centurion to keep him, and that he should have freedom, and to hinder none of his friends to minister to him.
24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
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And after certain days, Felix having arrived with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.
25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you. ”
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And as he reasoned concerning righteousness, and temperance, and the judgment about to come, Felix, being filled with fear, answered, Go for the present, and when I get an opportunity I will send for thee;
26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
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hoping at the same time that money would be given him by Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener and communed with him.
27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.
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But when two years were completed, Felix was relieved by Porcius Festus as his successor; and Felix, desirous to oblige the Jews, to acquire their favour, left Paul bound.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.