¶ And after five¹ days Ananias² the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator³ named Tertullus, who informed⁴ the governor against Paul.

And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing⁵ that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

We accept it always, and in all places, most noble⁶ Felix, with all thankfulness.

Notwithstanding, that⁷ I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

For we have⁸ found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover⁹ of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect¹⁰ of the Nazarenes¹¹:

Who also hath gone¹² about to profane the temple: whom¹³ we took, and¹⁴ would have judged according to our law.

But the chief¹⁵ captain Lysias came upon us, and with great¹⁶ violence took him away out of our hands,

Commanding¹⁷ his accusers to come unto thee: by¹⁸ examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

¹⁹And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

¶ Then Paul, after that the governor had²⁰ beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many²¹ years a judge²² unto this nation, I do²³ the more cheerfully answer for myself:

Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but²⁴ twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship²⁵.

²⁶And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

²⁷Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

But this I confess²⁸ unto thee, that after²⁹ the way which they call heresy³⁰, so³¹ worship I the God³² of my fathers, believing³³ all things which are written in the law³⁵ and in the prophets:

And have³⁶ hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that³⁷ there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

³⁸And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Now after many years I came to bring³⁹ alms to my nation, and offerings⁴⁰.

⁴¹Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

⁴²Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

¶ Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching⁴³ the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

¶ And when Felix heard these things, having⁴⁴ more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When⁴⁵ Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to⁴⁶ let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his⁴⁷ acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent⁴⁸ for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith⁴⁹ in Christ.

And as he⁵⁰ reasoned of righteousness⁵¹, temperance⁵², and judgment⁵³ to come, Felix⁵⁴ trembled, and answered, Go⁵⁵ thy way for this time; when⁵⁶ I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

He hoped⁵⁷ also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore⁵⁸ he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

But after two⁵⁹ years Porcius Festus⁶⁰ came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing⁶¹ to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.