Paul Before Felix at Caesarea Maritima

¹ And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, all of whom brought charges against Paul to the governor.

² And when¹ he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him,² saying, “We have experienced³ much⁴ peace through you, and reforms are taking place in this nation through your foresight.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had been summoned”)
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. *Here this participle (“have experienced”) and the following participle (“are taking place”) have been translated as finite verbs in keeping with English style
4. Or “many years,” with “years” understood

³ Both in every way and everywhere we acknowledge this,¹ most excellent Felix, with all gratitude.

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁴ But so that I may not impose on you for longer, I implore you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

⁵ For we have found¹ this man to be a public menace and one who causes riots among all the Jews throughout the Roman Empire² and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

1. *Here this participle (“found”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
2. Literally “the inhabited earth,” but here this is probably rhetorical hyperbole for the Roman Empire, especially since Felix, the Roman governor, is being addressed

⁶ who even attempted to desecrate the temple, and we arrested ⌞him¹⌟.²

1. Literally “whom”
2. Some later manuscripts include the following additional material between v. 6 and v. 8: “and we wanted to judge him according to our law, (24:7) but Lysius the military tribune came and took him from our hands with much violence, (24:8) ordering his accusers to come before you.”

⁸ When¹ you yourself examine him² you will be able to find out from ⌞him⌟³ about all these things of which we are accusing him.”

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“examine”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
3. Literally “whom”

⁹ And the Jews also joined in the attack, asserting these things were so.

¹⁰ And when¹ the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I² know you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I defend myself cheerfully with respect to the things concerning myself.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“gestured”)
2. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal

¹¹ You can ascertain that ⌞it has not been more than⌟¹ twelve days ⌞since⌟² I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

1. Literally “there are not to me more than”
2. Literally “from which time”

¹² And neither did they find me arguing with anyone or making a crowd develop in the temple courts¹ nor in the synagogues nor throughout the city.

1. *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself

¹³ Nor can they prove the things¹ to you concerning which they are now accusing me.

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

¹⁴ But I do confess this to you, that according to the Way (which they call a sect), so I worship the God of our fathers, believing all things that are in accordance with the law and that are written in the prophets,

¹⁵ having a hope in God which these men also themselves await: that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

¹⁶ ⌞For this reason⌟¹ also I myself ⌞always⌟² do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and people.

1. Literally “by this”
2. Literally “through everything”

¹⁷ So after many years, I came to practice charitable giving and offerings to my people,¹

1. Or “nation”

¹⁸ in which they found me purified in the temple courts,¹ not with a crowd or with a disturbance.

1. *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself

¹⁹ But there are some Jews from Asia¹ who ought to be present before you and bring charges against me,² if they have anything against me,

1. A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁰ or these men themselves should say what crime they found when¹ I stood before the Sanhedrin,²

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“stood”)
2. Or “council”

²¹ other than concerning this one declaration that I shouted while¹ standing there before them: ‘I am being judged before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead!’ ”

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“standing there”) which is understood as temporal

Paul Held Awaiting Trial

²² But Felix, because he¹ understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the military tribune comes down, I will decide ⌞your case⌟.”²

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“understood”) which is understood as causal
2. Literally “the case with respect to you”

²³ He ordered¹ the centurion for him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own people² from serving him.

1. *Here this participle (“ordered”) has been translated as a finite verb in keeping with English style
2. This could refer to either friends or relatives

²⁴ And after some days, when¹ Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him concerning faith in Christ Jesus.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal

²⁵ And while¹ he was discussing about righteousness and self control and the judgment that is to come, Felix became afraid and² replied, “Go away for the present, and when I³ have an opportunity, I will summon you.”

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was discussing”)
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“became”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as temporal

²⁶ At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul. For this reason also he sent for him as often as possible and¹ talked with him.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent for”) has been translated as a finite verb

²⁷ And when¹ two years had passed, Felix received as successor Porcius Festus. And because he² wanted to do a favor for the Jews, Felix left Paul behind ⌞as a prisoner⌟.³

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had passed”)
2. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“wanted”) which is understood as causal
3. Literally “bound”