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.
1 Pēc piecām dienām augstais priesteris Ananija ar vecajiem un kādu runas vīru Tertullu atnāca pie zemes pārvaldnieka un ierosināja sūdzību pret Pāvilu.
2 Kad Pāvils bija atsaukts, Tertulls sāka apsūdzības runu, sacīdams:
3 „Ļoti cienījamais Fēlik, mēs vienmēr un visur ar dziļu pateicību atzīstam, ka caur tevi esam ieguvuši pilnīgu mieru un ka ar tavu gādību notikušas teicamas pārgrozības šīs tautas dzīvē.
4 Bet, lai tevi pārāk ilgi neapgrūtinātu, es tevi lūdzu: uzklausi mūs savā laipnībā īsu brīdi.
5 Jo mēs esam izzinājuši, ka šis vīrs ir bīstams cilvēks un nemiera cēlējs visu jūdu vidū visā pasaulē, ka viņš ir nacariešu sektas vadonis
6 Un arī mēģinājis svētnīcu sagānīt. Viņu mēs esam notvēruši un gribējām tiesāt pēc mūsu likuma,
7 bet ieradās tribūns Lisijs un ar lielu pārspēku viņu no mūsu rokām izrāva,
8 likdams šī vīra apsūdzētājiem nākt pie tevis. Tu pats, visas lietas izklaušinājis, varēsi no viņa uzzināt, par ko mēs viņu apsūdzam.“
9 Arī jūdi pievienojās, sacīdami, ka tas tā esot.
10 Pāvils, saņēmis ņo zemes pārvaldnieka zīmi runāt, atbildēja: „Zinādams, ka tu daudz gadu esi šīs tautas tiesnesis, es droši aizstāvos.
11 Jo tev ir iespējams pārliecināties, ka nav vairāk kā divpadsmit dienu, kopš es esmu atnācis Jeruzālemē Dievu lūgt;
12 Un tie mani nav redzējuši nedz svētnīcā uz kādu runājam, nedz ļaudis kūdām uz sacelšanos ne sinagogās, ne pilsētā;
13 Tie ari nevar pierādīt, par ko viņi tagad mani apsūdz.
14 Bet es tev atzīstos, ka es kalpoju savu tēvu Dievam pēc tās mācības, ko viņi sauc par maldu mācību, ticēdams visam, kas saskan ar bauslību un kas rakstīts praviešos.
15 Un man ir cerība uz Dievu, kāda arī viņiem pašiem ir, ka būs taisno un netaisno augšāmcelšanās.
16 Tāpēc es ari cenšos vienmēr paturēt skaidru sirdsapziņu Dieva un cilvēku priekšā.
17 Bet pēc vairāk gadiem es esmu atnācis, lai nodotu dāvanas savai tautai un upurētu.
18 Tad daži Āzijas jūdi sastapa mani šķistāmies svētnīcā, kur nebija ne drūzmas, ne trokšņa.
19 Tiem vajadzētu būt tavā priekšā un sūdzēt, ja viņiem kas būtu pret mani.
20 Un šie paši lai saka, kādu vainu tie atklājuši, kad es stāvēju sinedrija priekšā,
21 Kā tikai šo vienu vārdu, ko es saucu, viņu vidū stāvēdams: Mirušo augšāmcelšanās dēļ jūs mani šodien tiesājat!“
22 Tā kā Fēliks šo mācību pazina tuvāk, viņš atlika viņu lietu un sacīja: „Kad komandieris Lizijs atnāks, tad es jūsu lietu izlemšu.“
23 Viņš pavēlēja virsniekam Pāvilu apsargāt, dot viņam atvieglojumus un neliegt, ka kāds no viņa piederīgiem viņam izdara kādu pakalpojumu.
24 Pēc dažām dienām Fēliks atnāca ar Druzillu, savu sievu, kas bija jūdiete. Viņš sūtīja pēc Pāvila un klausījās viņa mācību par ticību uz Jēzu Kristu.
25 Kad viņš runāja par taisnību un atturību un nākamo tiesu, tad Fēliks pārbijies sacīja: „Tagad ej, kad man būs vaļas, es tevi pasaukšu.“
26 Bet viņš turklāt arī cerēja, ka Pāvils viņam dos naudu; tādēļ tas bieži sūtīja pēc viņa un ar viņu runāja.
27 Kad divi gadi bija pagājuši, Porcijs Fēsts kļuva Fēlika pēctecis. Bet Fēliks, gribēdams jūdiem kaut ko pa prātam izdarīt, atstāja Pāvilu cietumā.
