Cinco días más tarde^a el sumo sacerdote Ananías^b descendió con algunos ancianos y con un abogado¹ llamado Tértulo; y² presentaron al gobernador^c sus cargos³ contra Pablo. 2 Después que llamaron a Pablo¹, Tértulo comenzó a acusarlo, diciendo al gobernador:

Ya que por ti hemos obtenido mucha paz, y que por providencia tuya se están llevando a cabo reformas en favor de esta nación, 3 nosotros, por todos los medios y en todas partes, reconocemos esto con profunda gratitud, oh excelentísimo Félix^a. 4 Pero para no importunarte más, te suplico que, con tu habitual bondad, nos concedas una breve audiencia¹. 5 Pues hemos descubierto¹ que este hombre es verdaderamente una plaga², y que provoca disensiones entre todos los judíos por el mundo entero³, y es líder de la secta^a de los nazarenos. 6 Hasta trató de profanar el templo^a; entonces¹ lo arrestamos ²y quisimos juzgarlo conforme a nuestra ley. 7 Pero interviniendo el comandante¹ Lisias, con gran violencia lo quitó de nuestras manos, 8 mandando a sus acusadores que vinieran a ti. Si tú mismo lo interrogas sobre todo lo que he dicho¹, podrás confirmar las cosas de que lo acusamos. 9 Los judíos se unieron también a la acusación^1a, asegurando que, efectivamente, así era todo.

10 Después que el gobernador^a le hizo una señal para que hablara, Pablo respondió:

Sabiendo que por muchos años tú has sido juez de esta nación, con gusto presento mi defensa, 11 puesto que tú puedes comprobar el hecho de que no hace más de doce días^a que subí a Jerusalén a adorar. 12 Y ni en el templo^a, ni en las sinagogas, ni en la ciudad misma me encontraron discutiendo con nadie o provocando un tumulto^1b. 13 Ni tampoco pueden probarte de lo que ahora me acusan^a. 14 Pero esto admito ante ti, que según el Camino^a que ellos llaman secta^b, yo sirvo al Dios de nuestros padres^1c, creyendo todo lo que es conforme a la ley y que está escrito en los profetas^d; 15 teniendo la misma esperanza en Dios queestos también abrigan, de que ciertamente habrá una resurrección tanto de los justos como de los impíos^1a. 16 Por esto, yo también me esfuerzo por conservar¹ siempre una conciencia irreprensible delante de Dios^a y delante de los hombres. 17 Y, después de varios años^a, he venido para traer limosnas^1b a mi nación y a presentar ofrendas; 18 haciendo lo cual me encontraron en el templo, después de haberme purificado^a, no con multitud ni con alboroto^b. Pero estaban allí ciertos judíos de Asia^1c, 19 y que deberían haberse presentado aquí ante ti y acusarme^a si tuvieran algo contra mí. 20 O si no, queestos mismos digan qué delito encontraron cuando comparecí ante el concilio^1a, 21 a no ser por esta sola declaración¹ que hice en alta voz mientras estaba entre ellos: «Por la resurrección de los muertos soy juzgado hoy ante vosotros^a».

22 Entonces Félix, conociendo con mayor exactitud acerca del Camino^a, pospuso el fallo, diciendo¹: Cuando venga² el comandante Lisias decidiré vuestro caso. 23 Y dio órdenes al centurión de que guardara a Pablo¹ bajo custodia^a, pero con alguna medida de libertad^b, y que no impidiera a ninguno de sus amigos² que lo sirvieran^c.

24 Pero pocos días más tarde, llegó Félix con Drusila su mujer¹, que era judía, y mandó traer a Pablo y lo oyó hablar acerca de la fe en Cristo Jesús^a. 25 Y al disertar Pablo¹ sobre la justicia^a, el dominio propio^b y el juicio venidero^c, Félix, atemorizado dijo²: Vete por ahora, pero cuando tenga tiempo te mandaré llamar. 26 Al mismo tiempo, tenía esperanza de que Pablo le diera dinero^a; por eso acostumbraba llamarlo con frecuencia y conversar con él. 27 Pero transcurridos dos años, Porcio Festo^a llegó como sucesor de Félix¹, y deseando hacer un favor a los judíos^b, Félix dejó preso a Pablo^c.

^aFive days later, the high priest ^bAnanias came down from Jerusalem to Caesarea with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus acting as spokesman and counsel. They presented to ^cthe governor their formal charges against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began the complaint against him, saying to the governor:“Since through you we have attained great peace, and since by your foresight reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 in every way and in every place, ^amost excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude. 4 But so that I do not weary you further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a public menace and one who ¹instigates dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the heretical ^2asect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to ^adesecrate the temple, but we took him into custody [¹and we intended to judge him by our Law, 7 but Lysias the commander came, and with great force took him out of our hands, 8 and ordered his accusers to come before you.] By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to determine the truth about these things with which we charge him.” 9 ^aThe Jews also joined in the attack, declaring and insisting that these things were so.

10 When ^athe governor nodded for him to speak, Paul answered,“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I make my defense cheerfully and with good courage. 11 As you can easily verify, it has been no more than ^atwelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 ^aNeither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor elsewhere in the city did they find me carrying on a discussion or disputing with anybody or ^bcausing a crowd to gather. 13 ^aNor can they present evidence to you to prove what they now bring against me. 14 But I confess this to you, that according to ^1athe Way, which they call a divisive and heretical ^bsect, I do worship and serve ^cthe God of our fathers, confidently ^dbelieving everything that is in accordance with the Law of Moses and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having the same hope in God which ^athese men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and of the wicked. 16 In view of this, ^aI also do my best and strive always to have a clear conscience before God and before men. 17 Now ^aafter several years I ^bcame to Jerusalem to bring to my people charitable contributions and offerings. 18 They found me in the temple presenting these offerings, after I had undergone the rites of ^apurification, without any ^bcrowd or uproar. But there were some ^cJews from the west coast province of Asia Minor, 19 who ought to have been here before you to ^apresent their charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before ^athe Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) , 21 other than for this one statement which ^aI had shouted out as I stood among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

22 But Felix, having a rather accurate understanding about ^athe Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he ordered the centurion to ^akeep Paul in custody, but to let him ^bhave some freedom, and he told the centurion not to stop any of ^chis friends from providing for his needs.

24 Several days later Felix came with his wife ¹Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about ^afaith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing ^arighteousness, ^bself-control honorable behavior, personal integrity, and ^cthe judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find a convenient time I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping to get ^amoney from Paul as a bribe; so he continued to send for him quite often and talked with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix was succeeded in office by ¹Porcius ^aFestus; and ^bwishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul ^cimprisoned.

After ^afive days the high priest ^bAnanias came down with some elders, ¹with an ²attorney named Tertullus, and they ³brought charges to ^cthe governor against Paul. 2 After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor,“Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, 3 we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, ^amost excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you ¹to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout ¹the world, and a ringleader of the ^asect of the Nazarenes. 6 And he even tried to ^adesecrate the temple; and ¹then we arrested him. ²[We wanted to judge him according to our own Law. 7 But Lysias the commander came along, and with much violence took him out of our hands, 8 ordering his accusers to come before you.] By examining him yourself concerning all these matters you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him.” 9 ^aThe Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

10 When ^athe governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded:“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 since you can take note of the fact that no more than ^atwelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 ^aNeither in the temple, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or ^bcausing ¹a riot. 13 ^aNor can they prove to you the charges of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I admit to you, that according to ^athe Way which they call a ^bsect I do serve ^1cthe God of our fathers, ^dbelieving everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; 15 having a hope in God, which ^athese men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 In view of this, ^aI also ¹do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. 17 Now ^aafter several years I ^bcame to bring ¹alms to my nation and to present offerings; 18 in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been ^apurified, without any ^bcrowd or uproar. But there were some ^cJews from ¹Asia— 19 who ought to have been present before you and to ^amake accusation, if they should have anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before ^athe ¹Council, 21 other than for this one statement which ^aI shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’”

22 But Felix, ¹having a more exact knowledge about ^athe Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the ²commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be ^akept in custody and yet ^bhave some freedom, and not to prevent any of ^chis friends from ministering to him.

24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his ¹wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^afaith in Christ Jesus. 25 But as he was discussing ^arighteousness, ^bself-control and ^cthe judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.” 26 At the same time too, he was hoping that ^amoney would be given him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and converse with him. 27 But after two years had passed, Felix ¹was succeeded by Porcius ^aFestus, and ^bwishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul ^cimprisoned.