Acts 24 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 After five days, Ananias the chief priest, certain elders, and an orator named Tertullus went there. These men brought charges against Paul before the governor.
1 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul.
2 When Paul stood before the governor, Tertullus began to accuse him and said to the governor, “Because of you we have great peace, and your foresight brings good reform to our nation;
2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight,
3 so with all thankfulness we welcome everything that you do, most excellent Felix.
3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.
4 So that I detain you no more, I ask you to briefly listen to me with kindness.
4 But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.
5 For we have found this man to be a pest and one who causes all the Jews throughout the world to rebel. He is a leader of the Nazarene sect.
5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.
6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.
7 Not in this translation
7 Not in this translation
8 When you question Paul about all these matters, you will be able to learn about these charges we are bringing against him.”
8 By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these charges were true.
9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
10 But when the governor motioned for Paul to speak, Paul answered, “I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, and so I gladly explain myself to you.
10 When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense,
11 You will be able to find out that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
11 seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem.
12 When they found me in the temple, I did not argue with anyone, and I did not stir up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city.
12 In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13 They cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against me.
13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But I admit this to you, that according to the Way that they call a sect, in that same way I serve the God of our fathers. I am faithful to all that is in the law and the writings of the prophets.
14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
15 I have the same confident hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 So I always strive to have a clear conscience before God and human beings.
16 In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring help to my nation and gifts of money.
17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings;
18 When I did this, certain Jews from Asia found me in a purification ceremony in the temple, not with a crowd or an uproar.
18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil.
19 These men ought to be before you now and say what they have against me, if they have anything.
19 They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me.
20 Or else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council,
20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council,
21 unless it is about this one thing that I shouted out when I stood among them, 'It is concerning the resurrection of those who have died that I am on trial before you today.'”
21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”
22 Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, ajourned the hearing. He said, “When Lysias the commander comes down from Jerusalem, I will decide your case.”
22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.”
23 Then he commanded the centurion that Paul should be kept under guard, but to have some freedom so that none of his friends would be prevented from attending to his needs.
23 He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.
24 After some days, Felix returned with Drusilla his wife, a Jewess, and he sent for Paul and he heard from him about faith in Christ Jesus.
24 After some days, Felix came with Drusilla his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.
25 But when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now. But when I have the opportunity later on, I will send for you.”
25 As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”
26 At the same time he wanted Paul to give money to him, so he often sent for him and spoke with him.
26 Meanwhile, he also hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore also he sent for him more often and talked with him.
27 But when two years passed, Porcius Festus became the governor after Felix, but Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he left Paul to continue under guard.
27 But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ananias
The high priest who ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth at his hearing and later went down to Caesarea to accuse him before Felix.
Cited in the guide: Acts 23:2; Acts 24:1
Drusilla
The Jewish wife of the governor Felix who listened with him to Paul speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Cited in the guide: Acts 24:24
Felix
The governor at Caesarea who heard Paul's case, trembled at his talk of judgment, and kept him in custody hoping for a bribe.
Cited in the guide: Acts 23:24; Acts 24:3; Acts 24:25
Festus
Succeeded Felix as governor, heard Paul's case, and sent him to Caesar after Paul appealed; he was told Paul was beside himself.
Cited in the guide: Acts 24:27; Acts 25:1; Acts 25:12
Tertullus
The spokesman who presented the case against Paul before the governor Felix.
Cited in the guide: Acts 24:1; Acts 24:2
Cross references (25)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 24:11; Acts 23:2; Acts 23:24; Acts 23:30; Acts 21:27
- 2 Proverbs 29:5; Acts 24:26–27; Proverbs 26:28; Jude 16; Psalm 12:2–3
- 3 Acts 26:25; Acts 23:26; Luke 1:3
- 4 Hebrews 11:32
- 5 Acts 28:22; Acts 24:14; Acts 26:5; Acts 21:28; Acts 15:5
- 6 Acts 24:12; John 18:31; Acts 19:37; John 19:7–8; Acts 23:10–15
- 8 Acts 25:15–16; Acts 25:5; Acts 23:30; Acts 23:35
- 9 1 Thessalonians 2:16; Micah 7:2–3; Matthew 26:59–60; Psalm 4:2; Isaiah 59:4–7
- 10 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Samuel 2:25; Acts 18:15; Luke 18:2; Acts 12:17
- 11 Acts 24:1; Acts 21:18; Acts 23:23; Acts 21:26–27; Acts 22:30
- 12 Acts 25:8; Acts 24:18; Acts 28:17; Acts 24:5
- 13 Acts 25:7; 1 Peter 3:16
- 14 Acts 9:2; Romans 3:21; Acts 3:13; Acts 28:23; Acts 24:5
- 15 Daniel 12:2; John 5:28–29; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–16; Revelation 20:12–13; Job 19:25–26
- 16 1 Timothy 1:5; Acts 23:1; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Hebrews 10:22; Romans 2:15
- 17 Galatians 2:10; Romans 15:25–28; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 8:1–4; Acts 11:29–30
- 18 Acts 26:21; Acts 21:26–30; Acts 24:12
- 19 Acts 23:30; Acts 25:16
- 21 Acts 23:6; Acts 26:6–8; Acts 4:2; Acts 28:20
- 22 Acts 24:6; Acts 18:20; Deuteronomy 19:18; Acts 26:3; Acts 24:24
- 23 Acts 27:3; Acts 28:16; Proverbs 16:7; Acts 24:26; Acts 21:8–14
- 24 Acts 20:21; Galatians 2:16; Acts 16:31; Luke 19:3; 1 John 5:1
- 25 John 16:8; 1 Peter 3:15; 2 Peter 1:6; Acts 10:42; Galatians 5:23
- 26 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Proverbs 17:23; Amos 2:6–7; 1 Samuel 12:3; 2 Peter 2:14–15
- 27 Acts 25:9; Acts 25:14; Acts 12:3; Mark 15:15; Acts 25:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
See how much close investigation is made by the many in a long course of time, that it should not be said that the trial was hurried over. For, as the orator had made mention of Lysias, that he took "him away with violence, Felix," he says, "deferred them.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)