Part 31

023:025 He also wrote a letter of which these were the contents:

023:026 "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency, Felix the Governor: all good wishes.

023:027 This man Paul had been seized by the Jews, and they were on the point of killing him, when I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, for I had been informed that he was a Roman citizen.

023:028 And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin,

023:029 and I discovered that the charge had to do with questions of their Law, but that he was accused of nothing for which he deserves death or imprisonment.

023:030 But now that I have received information of an intended attack upon him, I immediately send him to you, directing his accusers also to state before you the case they have against him."

023:031 So, in obedience to their orders, the soldiers took Paul and brought him by night as far as Antipatris.

023:032 The next day the infantry returned to the barracks, leaving the cavalry to proceed with him;

023:033 and, the cavalry having reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the Governor, they brought Paul also to him.

023:034 Felix, after reading the letter, inquired from what province he was; and being told "from Cilicia,"

023:035 he said, "I will hear all you have to say, when your accusers also have come." And he ordered him to be detained in custody in Herod's Palace.

024:001 Five days after this, Ananias the High Priest came down to Caesarea with a number of Elders and a pleader called Tertullus. They stated to the Governor the case against Paul.

024:002 So Paul was sent for, and Tertullus began to impeach him as follows: "Indebted as we are," he said, "to you, most noble Felix, for the perfect peace which we enjoy, and for reforms which your wisdom has introduced to this nation,

024:003 in every instance and in every place we accept them with profound gratitude.

024:004 But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.

024:005 For we have found this man Paul a source of mischief and a disturber of the peace among all the Jews throughout the Empire, and a ringleader in the heresy of the Nazarenes.

024:006 He even attempted to profane the Temple, but we arrested him.

024:007 []

024:008 You, however, by examining him, will yourself be able to learn the truth as to all this which we allege against him."

024:009 The Jews also joined in the charge, maintaining that these were facts.

024:010 Then, at a sign from the Governor, Paul answered, "Knowing, Sir, that for many years you have administered justice to this nation, I cheerfully make my defence.

024:011 For you have it in your power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days ago that I went up to worship in Jerusalem;

024:012 and that neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues, nor anywhere in the city, did they find me disputing with any opponent or collecting a crowd about me.

024:013 Nor can they prove the charges which they are now bringing against me.

024:014 But this I confess to you--that in the way which they style a heresy, I worship the God of our forefathers, believing everything that is taught in the Law or is written in the Prophets,

024:015 and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

024:016 This too is my own earnest endeavour--always to have a clear conscience in relation to God and man.

024:017 "Now after an interval of several years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to offer sacrifices.