Parallel Bible results for "acts 24"

Acts 24

New Living Translation NLT

1 Five 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.

2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.

3 For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you.

4 But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.

5 We 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.

6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.

7

8 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.”

9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

10 The 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.

11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.

12 My 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.

13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

14 “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.

15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.

16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.

18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.

19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!

20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of,

21 except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

22 At 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.”

23 He 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.

24 A 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.

25 As 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.”

26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

27 After 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.

Common English Bible CEB

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.

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.

3 Always and everywhere, most honorable Felix, we acknowledge this with deep 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.

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

6 and even tried to defile the temple. That's when we arrested him.

8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to verify the allegations we are bringing against him."

9 The Jews reinforced the action against Paul, affirming the truth of these accusations.

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.

11 You can verify that I went up to worship in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago.

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.

13 Nor can they prove to you the allegations they are now bringing 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.

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.

16 On account of this, I have committed myself to maintaining a clear conscience before God and with 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.

18 When they found me in the temple, I was ritually pure. There was no crowd and no 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.

20 In their absence, have these people who are here declare what crime they found when I stood before the Jerusalem 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.'"

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."

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.