Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 24 : 1 - 23
Chapter 24
1 | Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.
|
2 | And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight,
|
3 | we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
|
4 | Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.
|
5 | For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
|
6 | He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law.
|
7 | But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,
|
8 | commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."
|
9 | And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
|
10 | Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: "Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
|
11 | because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
|
12 | And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
|
13 | Nor can they prove 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, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
|
15 | I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
|
16 | This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
|
17 | "Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
|
18 | in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with a mob nor with tumult.
|
19 | They ought to have been here before you to object if they had anything against me.
|
20 | Or else let those who are here themselves say if they found any wrongdoing in me while I stood before the council,
|
21 | unless it is for this one statement which I cried out, standing among them, "Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day."'
|
22 | But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case."
|
23 | So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him.
|
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.