Acts 24 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Five days later, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. They presented their case against Paul to the governor.

When Paul was called in, Tertullus began presenting the case. "Your Excellency Felix, we have enjoyed a long period of peace because of you, and your leadership has brought reforms to this nation.

We acknowledge all of this, everywhere and in every way, with deep gratitude.

But so I don't take up too much of your time, I ask you to hear us briefly with your usual graciousness.

We've found this man to be a plague — someone who stirs up riots among Jewish people all over the world. He's a ringleader of the Nazarene faction.

He even tried to defile the temple, so we seized him.

[We wanted to judge him by our own law, but the commander Lysias came and forcefully took him from us,

ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself, you'll be able to verify everything we're charging him with.

The Jewish leaders joined in the attack, insisting that all of this was true.

When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul responded: "I know you've been a judge over this nation for many years, so I'm glad to make my defense before you.

You can easily verify that it's been no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

They never found me arguing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.

And they can't prove any of the charges they're bringing against me now.

But I will admit this to you: I follow the Way, which they call a faction. This is how I worship the God of our ancestors, and I believe everything that's written in the Law and the Prophets.

I have the same hope in God that they themselves hold — that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.

Because of this, I always try to keep a clear conscience before both God and people.

After being away for several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring charitable gifts to my people and to present offerings.

That's what they found me doing in the temple — I had completed the purification ritual. There was no crowd, no disturbance.

But some Jewish people from the province of Asia — they're the ones who should be here in front of you making accusations, if they actually have anything against me.

Or let these men here tell you what crime they found when I stood before the council —

unless it's about this one thing I shouted when I stood among them: 'It's because of the resurrection of the dead that I'm on trial before you today!'

Felix, who actually knew quite a bit about the Way, adjourned the hearing. "When Commander Lysias comes down," he said, "I'll make my decision about your case."

He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and to allow his friends to take care of his needs.

A few days later, Felix came back with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Jesus, the One.

But when Paul started discussing justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix got scared. "That's enough for now," he said. "You can go. I'll send for you when I find the time."

At the same time, he was hoping Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

Two years went by, and Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus. But because Felix wanted to do the Jewish leaders a favor, he left Paul in prison.