Paul Is Accused in the Court of Felix
1 Five days later Ananias the high priest, together with some of their leaders and a lawyer named Tertullus, went to the governor to present their case against Paul. 2 So Paul was called in, and Tertullus stated the case against him:
Honorable Felix, you have brought our people a long period of peace, and because of your concern our nation is much better off. 3 All of us are always grateful for what you have done. 4 I don't want to bother you, but please be patient with us and listen to me for just a few minutes.
5 This man has been found to be a real pest and troublemaker for our people all over the world. He is also a leader of a group called Nazarenes. 6-8 When he tried to disgrace the temple, we arrested him. If you question him, you will find out for yourself that our charges are true.
9 The Jewish crowd spoke up and agreed with what Tertullus had said.
Paul Defends Himself
10 The governor motioned for Paul to speak, and he began:
I know that you have judged the people of our nation for many years, and I am glad to defend myself in your court.
11 It was no more than twelve days ago that I went to worship in Jerusalem. You can find this out easily enough. 12 Never once did the Jews find me arguing with anyone in the temple. I didn't cause trouble in the synagogues or in the city itself. 13 There is no way that they can prove these charges they are now bringing against me.
14 I admit that their leaders think the Lord's Way which I follow is based on wrong beliefs. But I still worship the same God that my ancestors worshiped. And I believe everything written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets. 15 I am just as sure as these people are that God will raise from death everyone, good or evil. 16 And because I am sure, I try my best to have a clear conscience in whatever I do for God or for people.
17 After being away for several years, I returned here to bring gifts for the poor people of my nation and to offer sacrifices. 18 This is what I was doing when I was found going through a ceremony in the temple. I wasn't with a crowd, and there was no uproar.
19 Some Jews from Asia were there at that time, and if they have anything to say against me, they should be here now. 20 Or ask the ones who are here. They can tell you that they didn't find me guilty of anything when I was tried by their own council. 21 The only charge they can bring against me is what I shouted out in court, when I said, “I am on trial today because I believe that the dead will be raised to life!”
22 Felix knew a lot about the Lord's Way. But he brought the trial to an end and said, “I will make my decision after Lysias the commander arrives.” 23 He then ordered the army officer to keep Paul under guard, but not to lock him up or to stop his friends from helping him.
Paul Is Kept under Guard
24 Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, went to the place where Paul was kept under guard. They sent for Paul and listened while he spoke to them about having faith in Christ Jesus. 25 But Felix was frightened when Paul started talking to them about doing right, about self-control, and about the coming judgment. So he said to Paul, “That's enough for now. You may go. But when I have time I will send for you.” 26 After this, Felix often sent for Paul and talked with him, because he hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe.
27 Two years later Porcius Festus became governor in place of Felix. But since Felix wanted to do the Jewish leaders a favor, he kept Paul in jail.
XXIV.
Pōvuls Feliksa prīškā.
1 Pīcas dīnas vēļōk pi pōrvaļdnīka īsaroda vērsgoreidznīks Ananiass un daži vacōkī kūpā ar vīnu daiļrunōtōju Tertullu, Pōvula apsyudzātu. 2 Jam īsarunūt, Tertullus sōce apvaiņōt saceidams: Dižciļteigais Felikss! Pateicūt tev mes dzeivojam piļneigā mīrā, un par dažu lītu stōvūkļa izlobōšonu tauta ir pateiceiga tovai gaišredzeibai. 3 Šytū mes vysur un vysod ar pateiceibu atzeistam. 4 Un lai tevis vairōk naapgryutynōtu, es lyudzu, ka tu byutu tik labsirdeigs myusus mozu breidi izklauseit.
5 Pōrsalīcynōjuši tad, ka šytys cylvāks ir na tikai mērs, namīra cēlējs storp jūdim vysā pasaulī un nazareīšu sektas vodūņs, 6 bet ari mēginōja apkēzeit svētneicu, mes jū apcītynōjom (un, saskaņā ar myusu lykumu, gribējom jū nūtīsōt. 7 Bet uzskrējis vērsinīks Lyzijs ar pōrspāku jū nu myusu rūkom izrōve 8 un jō apvaiņōtōjim lyka grīztīs pi tevis). Nūpratynoj jū, un tu varēsi pats tyvōk sprīst par vysu tū, kamā mes jū apvaiņojam. 9 Šai apvaiņōšonai pīsavīnōja ari jūdi, saceidami, ka tys tai ir.
10 Kad pōrvaļdnīks ar zeimi atļōve runōt, Pōvuls atsasauce: Zynōdams, ka tu jau ilgus godus esi par šōs tautas tīsnesi, es drūši un ar cereibu stōjūs pi sevis attaisnōšonas. 11 Vari pats pōrsalīcynōt, ka navā par divpadsmit dīnom vairōk, kai es aizgōju uz Jeruzalemu Dīva lyugtu. 12 Ni svētneicā, ni synagogā, ni ari piļsātā manis nikas napīkēre, ka es byutu ar kū navīn streidējīs vai ļaudis uz dumpi saucis. 13 Jī navar tovā prīškā pīrōdeit tō, kamā jī mani tagad apvaiņoj. 14 Tovā prīškā atzeistu, ka es, saskaņā ar tū ticeibu, kuru jī sauc par sektu, tai sovam Tāvam Dīvam kolpoju, ka vysam tam, kas stōv raksteits lykumā un pravīšūs, tycu, 15 un maņ ir ikš Dīva cereiba, ka nōks kai taisneigūs, tai ari nataisneigūs augšamceļšonōs, kurōs gaida ari jī. 16 Tōpēc es ryupejūs, ka muna sirdsapziņa byutu vysod teira kai Dīva, tai ari ļaužu prīškā.
17 Pēc daudzim tod godim atgōju, lai sovai tautai nūdūtu dōvonu, salyktu upuri (un zvārastu). 18 Un kad es pījēmu škeisteišonu svētneicā, bet gon na burzmē vai dumpī, mani 19 satyka Azijas jūdi. Tim vajadzēja, jo jim byutu kaut kas pret mani bejis, tovā prīškā nūstōt un mani apvaiņōt. 20 Bet lai pasoka šitī poši, kaidu nūzigumu pi manis atroda, kad stōvēju augstōs padūmes prīškā, 21 te varātu byut tikai tys vōrds, kuru es, jūs vydā stōvādams, izteiču: Augšamceļšonōs nu myrūnim dēļ es šudiņ teiku nu jums tīsōts!
22 Lai gon Felikss tū mōceibu ļūti labi zynōja, tūmār jūs lītu atlyka saceidams: Kad atbrauks vērsinīks Lizijs, tad es jyusu lītu izlemšu. 23 Tad jys simtnīkam pavēlēja apcītynōjumā gon jū paturēt, bet, jo kas nu jō sovejim grybātu jam pakolpōt, nalīgt. 24 Pēc dažom dīnom pi jō īsaroda Felikss reizē ar sovu sīvu Druzillu, kura beja jūdīte. Pasaucis Pōvulu, jys klausejōs ticeibai ikš Jezus Kristus. 25 Bet kad tys runōja par taisneibu, škeisteibu un nōkūšū tīsu, Felikss nūsabeidis atsasauce: Pagaidom vari īt, atteiceigā laikā es likšu tevis pasaukt. 26 Jys tadei cerēja sajimt nu Pōvula naudu, tōdēļ ari bīži jū aicynōja un ar jū runōja. 27 Pēc divejim godim Feliksa vītu ījēme Porcijs Festus. Felikss tūmār, grybādams jūdim īpatikt, Pōvulu pamete cītumā.
