Atlas Biblica

    Acts · 26 verses

    Acts 24

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    The chapter

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    Felix is frightened by righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment while hoping Paul will offer him a bribe—a remarkably crowded afternoon for one governor.

    A brief prosecution, after allvv. 1–21

    Ananias arrives with elders and Tertullus, who begins by praising Felix’s peace, foresight, improvements, and excellence before requesting a brief hearing. The charges are that Paul is a pestilence, a ringleader of the Nazarenes, and a would-be desecrator of the temple; the Jews concur. Paul answers that he went to Jerusalem to worship, was found ceremonially clean, and neither stirred crowds nor debated in the temple. He admits worshipping according to the Way, believes the Law and Prophets, and holds the hope of resurrection. The chief witnesses against him, he says, are some Jews from Asia, who ought to appear if they have charges. Otherwise, the whole matter reduces to one sentence about the resurrection of the dead.

    The postponed decisionvv. 22–27

    Felix, already well informed about the Way, adjourns the hearing until Lysias arrives. Paul remains under guard, though with some freedom and visits from friends. Later Felix and Drusilla listen as Paul speaks about faith in Christ Jesus; when righteousness, self-control, and coming judgment enter the room, Felix becomes frightened and sends him away. Yet Felix also hopes for a bribe, so Paul is summoned frequently for conversation. Two years pass. Lysias never arrives in the account, and Felix leaves Paul imprisoned when Festus succeeds him, wishing to do the Jews a favor.

    The text

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    Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.

    1. Acts 24:1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.

    2. Acts 24:2When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.

    3. Acts 24:3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.

    4. Acts 24:4But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

    5. Acts 24:5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,

    6. Acts 24:6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

    7. Acts 24:8By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all our charges against him.”

    8. Acts 24:9The Jews concurred, asserting that these charges were true.

    9. Acts 24:10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.

    10. Acts 24:11You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

    11. Acts 24:12Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.

    12. Acts 24:13Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.

    13. Acts 24:14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,

    14. Acts 24:15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

    15. Acts 24:16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

    16. Acts 24:17After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.

    17. Acts 24:18At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia

    18. Acts 24:19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.

    19. Acts 24:20Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

    20. Acts 24:21unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

    21. Acts 24:22Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.”

    22. Acts 24:23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

    23. Acts 24:24After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

    24. Acts 24:25As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

    25. Acts 24:26At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

    26. Acts 24:27After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

    01 — Also here

    Who else the chapter reaches

    Names written in the English are linked in the text above. These are the ones that are not: an entity the Hebrew or Greek names under a spelling the translation does not use, or one reached only by an assertion about a verse of this chapter.

    Named in the Hebrew or Greek somewhere in this chapter, under a form the English renders differently — the registry's Ludim against the translation's Ludites — so there is no word in the sentence to hang the link on.

    Reached by an assertion Atlas extracted from a verse of this chapter rather than by a name written in it — a pronoun, a title, or a participant the sentence carries without naming. This layer is model-read and measured at 88.6–90.3% precision, and it is kept separate from the names above for that reason.

    02 — Read alongside

    Where this is echoed

    Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 357 passages were voted onto 25 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.

    • 15Daniel 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
    • 16Acts 23:1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
    • 161 Timothy 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
    • 162 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
    • 15John 5:28–29Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
    • 25John 16:8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
    • 16Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
    • 5Acts 28:22But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
    • 21Acts 23:6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
    • 251 Peter 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
    • 27Acts 25:9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”
    • 14Acts 9:2and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
    • 151 Thessalonians 4:14–16For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
    • 16Romans 2:15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
    • 25Galatians 5:23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
    • 252 Peter 1:6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

    Onward

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