[24:1] And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.
[24:2] And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
[24:3] in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.
[24:4] But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
[24:5] For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
[24:6] He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him.
[24:8] By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
[24:9] The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
[24:10] And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.
[24:11] You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem,
[24:12] and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city.
[24:13] Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me.
[24:14] But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
[24:15] having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
[24:16] So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
[24:17] Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
[24:18] While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia—
[24:19] they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me.
[24:20] Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
[24:21] other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”