Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them,
took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor,
presented Paul also before him.
And when the governor had read the letter,
he asked of what province he was.
And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come.
And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders,
and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.
And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,
Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness,
and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,
We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee,
I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow,
and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world,
and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
Who also hath gone about to profane the temple:
whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.
But the chief captain Lysias came upon us,
and with great violence took him away out of our hands,
Commanding his accusers to come unto thee:
by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things,
whereof we accuse him.
And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.
Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered,
Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation,
I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
Because that thou mayest understand,
that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man,
neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
But this I confess unto thee,
that after the way which they call heresy,
so worship I the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow,
that there shall be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and unjust.
And herein do I exercise myself,
to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
Who ought to have been here before thee, and object,
if they had ought against me.
Or else let these same here say,
if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them,
Touching the resurrection of the dead
I am called in question by you this day.
And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way,
he deferred them, and said,
When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Acts 23:31-24:22
"Felix himself had a better knowledge of the Jewish religion than many supposed. Paul's plain statement of the facts in the case enabled Felix to understand still more clearly the motives by which the Jews were governed in attempting to convict the apostle of sedition and treasonable conduct. The governor would not gratify them by unjustly condemning a Roman citizen, neither would he give him up to them to be put to death without a fair trial. Yet Felix knew no higher motive than self-interest, and he was controlled by love of praise and a desire for promotion. Fear of offending the Jews held him back from doing full justice to a man whom he knew to be innocent. He therefore decided to suspend the trial until Lysias should be present,.." Acts of the Apostles p.422 E.G.W.
