Daniel P. Barron

1 And after five days, Ananias the chief priest came down, with the elders and a certain orator, ⁱ Tertullus, whom they made known to the governor concerning the Paul. 2 And he being called, the Tertullus began to accuse, saying,

“Much peace is happening through you, and prosperity ⁱⁱ is to this nation through your forethought. ⁱⁱⁱ 3 And also in every way everywhere we welcome, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 And so that I might not much hinder you, I urge you to hear us briefly in your gentleness. ^iv 5 For finding this man a plague and moving dissension among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world and a ringleader of the sect ^v of the Nazarenes, 6 who also attempted to profane the temple, whom also we took ^vi and desired to judge according to our law. ^vii 7 But Lysias, the commander of a thousand, with much force took out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come to you. ^viii From which you will be able, examining him, to know about all these things that we are accusing him.” 9 And also the Jews agreed, professing these things to be so.

10 And the Paul answered (the governor having nodded to him to speak), “Understanding for many years you have been a judge to this nation, the more encouraged about myself I defend. 11 You are able to know that it is not more than twelve days to me from which I went up worshiping in Jerusalem. 12 And neither in the temple did they find me with some dispute or making a disturbance with a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor throughout the city. 13 Nor are they able to prove concerning which now they accuse me.”

14 “But, this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call a sect, ^ix so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things that have been written throughout the law and the prophets, 15 having hope in the God, which also these themselves accept. There is soon to be a resurrection of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous. 16 And in this I exercise myself, having ^x a conscience ^xi without offense ^xii toward the God and the men through everything. ^xiii 17 And after many years, I came to do charitable deeds and offerings to my nation. 18 In which certain Jews from the Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, nor with an uproar, 19 whom ought to be before you and accuse, if they had something against me. 20 Or, let these themselves speak, what unrighteousness they found in me, while I stood before the council. 21 Or, concerning this one statement ^xiv which I cried out among them, that 'Concerning resurrection of the dead I am being judged today by you.'”

22 And hearing these things, the Felix put them off, knowing more accurately the things about the way, said, “When Lysias, the commander of a thousand, comes down, I will decide the things concerning you.” 23 So, he commanded the centurion to keep the Paul, and to have relief, ^xv and to forbid none of his own to serve or come to him.

24 And after some days, the Felix arriving with Drusilla, ^xvi being the Jewish woman, he summoned the Paul and heard him about the faith in Christ. 25 And he was reasoning about righteousness and self-control and the judgment that is about to be, the Felix, being afraid, answered, “For now go away. And having time, I will call for you.” 26 At the same time, also hoping that money will be given by the Paul, so that he might release him. Therefore, summoning him often, he was conversing with him. 27 And two years being fulfilled, the Felix received a successor, Porcius ^xvii Festus. ^xviii And desiring grace to be placed to the Jews, the Felix left the Paul bound.

Acts 23 - Acts 25

Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.

1. ῥήτορος (hrêtoros) “orator” NKJV, KJV, YLT; “attorney” NAS – only here. ^
2. κατορθωμάτων (katorthômatôn) “prosperity” NKJV; “worthy deeds” YLT, KJV; “reforms” NAS – only here. ^
3. προνοίας (provoias) “forethought” YLT; “foresight” NKJV; “providence” KJV, NAS – found also in Romans 13:14. ^
4. ἐπιεικείᾳ (epieikeia) “gentleness” YLT; “graciousness” HCSB; “courtesy” NKJV; “kindness” NAS; clemency” KJV – found also in 2 Corinthians 10:1 (“gentleness” NKJV). This noun is related to the adjective ἐπιεικής (epieikês) “gentle” found in Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 2:18. ^
5. αἱρέσεως (haireseôs) “sect” - see footnote for Acts 5:17. ^
6. This last part of this verse is not in CT, in a minority of MT, but is found in RT. καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἡμέτερον νόμον ἠθελήσαμεν κρίνειν (kai kata ton hêmeteron vomon êthelêsamen krinein). ^
7. Verse 7 is not in CT, minority of MT, and is found in RT. ^
8. This first part of verse 8 is in the RT, not CT, and minority of MT. ^
9. αἵρεσιν (hairesin) “sect” - see footnote for Acts 5:17. ^
10. ἔχων (echôn) “having” MT; ἔχειν (echein) “to have” RT, CT ^
11. συνείδησιν (suneidêsin) “conscience” - see 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 4:2; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 9:9; 10:1-4, 10-12, 14, 18-23; 13:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 3:15-16, 21. ^
12. ἀπρόσκοπον (aproskopon) “without offense” - found also in 1 Corinthians 10:32; Philippians 1:10. For similar concept, see also Romans 12:17-18; Hebrews 12:14a. ^
13. This well sums up a godly life. ^
14. φωνῆς (phônês) “statement” NKJV, NAS; “voice” KJV, YLT – usually translated “voice” or “sound.” ^
15. ἄνεσιν (anesin) “relief” - Green “ease”; NKJV, KJV, YLT “liberty”; NAS “freedom” - found also in 2 Corinthians 2:13 (“rest”); 7:5 (“rest”); 8:13 (“eased”); 2 Thessalonians 1:7 (“rest”). ^
16. Δρουσίλλῃ (Drousillê) “Drusilla” - only here. ^
17. Πόρκιον (Porkion) “Porcius” - only here. ^
18. Φῆστον (Phêston) “Festus” - found also in Acts 25:1, 4, 9, 12-14, 22-24; 26:24-25, 32. ^