Ma'ashym (Acts) — 24
Shaul Appears before Felix
1 Now after five days Ananyas the high Kuhan came down with the elders and a certain lawyer named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Shaul.
2 When Shaul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Shaul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of Shalum for us Yahudym and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.
3 For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you.
4 But I do not 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 Yahudym all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarym.
6 Furthermore, this Shaul was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.
7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands,
8 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.”
9 Then the other Yahudym commented in declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.
10 The governor then motioned for Shaul to speak. Shaul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Yahudym affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.
11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Yahushalam 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 Yahudym congregation 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 of Truth, which they call a cult. I worship the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of our fathers, and I firmly believe the Yahudym law and everything written by the Nabyms.
15 I have the same hope in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH 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 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and all people.
17 “After several years away, I returned to Yahushalam with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
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 Yahudym from the province of Asia were there and they ought to be here before you to object if they had anything against me
20 Ask these men here what crime the Yahudym 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 of Truth, 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 Shaul 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 a Yahudym. Sending for Shaul, they listened as Shaul told them about Amunah in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA Ha'Mashyach.
25 As Shaul reasoned with them about righteousness and self control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” Felix replied. “When it is more convenient I will call for you again.”
26 Felix also hoped that Shaul would bribe him, so Felix sent for Shaul 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 Yahudym people, he left Shaul in prison.