Acts 24:15-26

¹⁵and I have a hope that rests in God — a hope which they also cherish — that there will one day be a resurrection of good and bad alike.

¹⁶This being so, I strive at all times to keep my conscience clear before both God and people.

¹⁷After some years' absence I had come to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and to make offerings;

¹⁸and it was while engaged in this that they found me in the Temple, after completing a period of purification, but not with any crowd or disorder.

¹⁹There were, however, some Jews from Roman Asia who ought to have been here before you, and to have made any charge that they may have against me —

²⁰Or else let my opponents here say what they found wrong in me when I was before the Council,

²¹except as to the one sentence that I shouted out as I stood amongst them — ‘It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on my trial before you today’.”

²²Felix, however, adjourned the case — though he had a fairly accurate knowledge of all that concerned the Way — with the promise, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will give my decision in your case.”

²³So he gave orders to the captain in charge of Paul to keep him in custody, but to relax the regulations, and not to prevent any of his personal friends from attending to his wants.

²⁴Some days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and, sending for Paul, listened to what he had to say about faith in Christ Jesus.

²⁵But, while Paul was speaking at length about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement, Felix became terrified, and interrupted him — “Go for the present, but, when I find an opportunity, I will send for you again.”

²⁶He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.