Acts 24

1 Five days [after a period of time, following] later the high priest [chief spiritual leader] Ananias came down [descended, went down] with some elders [respected leaders, Jewish rulers] and a lawyer [orator, spokesman] named Tertullus, who presented [informed, made known] to the governor [ruler, leader] their case [charges, accusations] against Paul [the Apostle, originally named Saul]. word study 2 When Paul had been called in [summoned, brought forth], Tertullus opened the prosecution [began to accuse, started his case]: “Because of you [through your leadership, by your authority], we have enjoyed a lasting [great, much] peace [harmony, tranquility], and your foresight [providence, wise planning] has brought improvements [reforms, worthy deeds] to this nation [people, Gentiles]. word study 3 In every way [always, entirely] and everywhere [in all places, throughout the land], most excellent [noble, of high rank] Felix, we acknowledge [receive, welcome] this with all [every kind of] gratitude [thankfulness, appreciation]. word study 4 But in order [that I may not be further tedious] not to burden [weigh upon, be a hindrance to] you any further, I beg [entreat, plead with] your indulgence [gentleness, clemency, kindness] to hear [listen to, give attention to] us briefly [concisely, in a few words, of your courtesy]. word study 5 We have found this man to be a [pestilent fellow, plague] pestilence, stirring up dissension [insurrection, sedition] among the Jews [people of Jewish descent] all over the [inhabited earth, world] world. He is a ringleader [captain] of the sect [group, party] of the Nazarenes [followers of Jesus from Nazareth], word study 6 and he even tried [attempted, made an effort] to desecrate [profane, treat as common] the temple [the sacred place]; so we seized [grasped, laid hold of] him [and would have judged according to our law]. word study 8 By examining [investigating, questioning] him yourself, you will be able [have the power, capability] to learn [come to know, understand] the truth [reality, facts] about all [every, each] our charges [accusations, allegations] against him [this man, Paul].” word study 9 The Jews [from the tribe of Judah, Jewish leaders] concurred [agreed, assented], asserting [claiming, affirming] that these charges [accusations, allegations] were true [genuine, factual, as stated]. word study 10 When the governor [ruler, high-ranking official] motioned [signaled, beckoned] for Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] to speak, he began his response: “Knowing [being aware, having understanding] that you [as a judge, with authority] have been a judge [one who makes fair decisions, an umpire] over this nation [the Jewish people, a specific ethnic group] for many years [a long period of time], I gladly [with confidence, cheerfully] make my defense [give an account of myself, apologize]. word study 11 You can verify [make certain, take knowledge] for yourself that no more than [not exceeding, only] twelve days ago I went up [ascended, traveled to] to Jerusalem [the holy city, a place of worship] to worship [show respect, honor, and reverence]. word study 12 Yet my accusers did not find me [disputing or arguing] debating with anyone in the temple [a sacred place, the Temple in Jerusalem] or [inciting or stirring up] riling up a crowd [a large group of people, a riotous multitude] in the synagogues [gatherings or assemblies of people] or [anywhere else] in the city [a town with walls, the people who live there]. word study 13 Nor [neither, not one or the other] can they prove [demonstrate, show evidence] to you any [the things, the accusations] of their charges [allegations, accusations] against me [now, in this present time, as they accuse me]. word study 14 I do confess [acknowledge, profess] to you, however, that I worship [serve, minister to] the God [the one true deity] of our fathers [ancestors, paternal heritage] according to the Way [the path of Jesus, the Christian faith], which they call [label, designate] a sect [a religious group, a faction]. I believe [trust, have faith in] everything that is laid down [established, ordained] by the Law [the Mosaic law, God’s instruction] and written [recorded, inscribed] in the Prophets [the spokesmen of God, the predictive writers], word study 15 and I have the same hope [confidence in God’s goodness] in God [the one true deity] that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection [standing up again from death] of both [including all] the righteous [just, fair, and innocent] and the wicked [unjust, unfair, and sinful]. word study 16 In this hope [of eternal salvation, confident expectation], I strive [exercise myself, train diligently] always to maintain [have, possess] a clear [void of offense, pure] conscience [moral awareness, inner sense of right and wrong] before [toward, in relation to] God [the one true deity, Creator] and [toward, with] man [human beings, people]. word study 17 After [many] several years, then [at that time, next], I returned [came, arrived] to Jerusalem [the holy city, to worship] to bring [give, deliver] alms [charity, help to the poor] to my people [nation, fellow Jews] and to present [offer, give as a gift] offerings [sacrifices, acts of worship]. word study 18 At the time they found me [in the process of purification, being made clean] in the temple [the sacred place, the house of God], I was ceremonially clean [purified, set apart] and was not inciting [stirring up, provoking] a crowd [a large group, a multitude] or an uproar [a commotion, tumult]. But there are some Jews [from the Jewish nation, descendants of Judah] from the province of Asia [the Roman province, a region in western Asia Minor] word study 19 who ought [ought to have been present, should be here] to appear before you [in your presence, to your face] and bring charges [make accusation, object], if [in case, provided that] they have [possess, hold against me] anything [something, a charge] against me [toward me, to my detriment]. word study 20 Otherwise [or else], let these men [these same ones] state for themselves [say] any crime [wrongdoing] they found [discovered] in me [to me] when I stood [was standing] before [in the presence of] the Sanhedrin [council], word study 21 unless it was this [one and only, single] one thing I called out [cried, shouted] as I stood [in an upright position, firmly] in their presence: ‘It is concerning [about, regarding] the resurrection [standing up again from death, revival] of the dead [lifeless, deceased] that I am on trial [being judged, examined] before you today [at this present time, now].’” word study 22 Then Felix [having more perfect knowledge, well-informed], who was well informed [exactly, having a more detailed understanding] about the Way [the Christian faith, the road to salvation], adjourned [deferred, put off] the hearing and said, “When Lysias [the chief captain, a military officer] the commander comes [shall come down, arrives], I will decide [determine, know fully] your case [matter, business].” word study 23 He ordered [directed, commanded] the centurion [a Roman military officer] to keep Paul [in custody] under guard, but to allow him some [measure of] freedom [rest, relief] and permit his friends [acquaintances, those who knew him] to minister [serve, care for] to his needs [requirements, necessities]. word study 24 After [certain] several days, Felix [the Roman procurator] returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess [a Jewish woman, of Jewish descent]. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about [the principles of, trusting in] faith [confidence, trust] in Christ Jesus [the Messiah, the anointed one]. word study 25 As Paul expounded on [moral and spiritual] righteousness [living according to God’s will], self-control [mastering one’s desires], and the coming [future, impending] judgment [God’s decision for or against], Felix became [extremely] frightened [afraid, terrified] and said, “You may go for now [at this time, for the present]. When I find [have, obtain] the time [a convenient season, opportunity], I will call [summon] for you [to come to me].” word study 26 At the same time [together, simultaneously], he was hoping [expecting, having confidence] that Paul would offer him a bribe [money, a gift to influence a decision]. So he sent for Paul frequently [often, repeatedly] and talked [conversed, communed] with him. word study 27 After [a period of] two years [a length of time] had passed, Felix [the Roman procurator of Judea] was succeeded [received a successor, took the place of] by Porcius Festus [a Roman governor]. And wishing [desiring, intending] to do the Jews [the people of Judah, the Jewish leaders] a favor [grace, graciousness], Felix [the Roman procurator] left Paul [the apostle, originally named Saul] in prison [bound, in chains]. word study