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Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor.
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24
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When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: "You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.
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For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you.
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But I don't want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.
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We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.
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Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.
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Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him.
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You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."
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Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.
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The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.
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You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.
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My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.
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These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
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"But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
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I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
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Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
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"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
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My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.
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But some Jews from the province of Asia were there--and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!
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Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of,
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except for the one time I shouted out, 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"
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At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, "Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case."
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He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.
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A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.
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As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. "Go away for now," he replied. "When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."
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He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.
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After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.