ACT 24:10-21

Paulʼs Defense to Felix

10When the governor nodded to him to speak, Paul answered, "Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I present my defense before you with good reason.

11You are able to verify that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

12And they neither found me disputing with anyone in the temple nor stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or throughout the city.

13Nor can they prove to you the things they are now accusing me of.

14But I confess this to you: that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything that is written in the Law and in the Prophets,

15having a hope toward God — which these men themselves also accept — that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

16In view of this, I myself strive to always maintain a blameless conscience before God and men.

17Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to make offerings,

18in the course of which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, and not with any uproar — but some Jews from Asia,

19who ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.

20Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,

21unless it is for this one statement that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"

In the world it was spoken into

In this passage, Paul stands before Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, to defend himself against accusations brought by Jewish leaders. Felix, as a Roman official, would have been familiar with the legal protocols of the Roman Empire, where defendants were expected to present a formal defense in their own words. Paul’s reference to 'the Way' would have been understood by Felix as a term for a distinct religious movement within Judaism, akin to other Jewish sects like the Pharisees or Sadducees. Paul’s claim of innocence—that he was not causing disturbances in the temple, synagogues, or city—reflects the Jewish leaders’ concern for maintaining public order, a priority for Roman authorities. His mention of 'twelve days' since arriving in Jerusalem underscores his brief presence, countering accusations of prolonged agitation. Paul’s defense aligns with Roman legal expectations, emphasizing factual evidence and appealing to Felix’s role as a judge.

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How other translations render this

ACT 24:10

KJV: 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:
BSB: When 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.
Koinōnos: When the governor nodded to him to speak, Paul answered, "Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I present my defense before you with good reason.

ACT 24:11

KJV: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
BSB: You can verify for yourself that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
Koinōnos: You are able to verify that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.

ACT 24:12

KJV: 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:
BSB: Yet my accusers did not find me debating with anyone in the temple or riling up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city.
Koinōnos: And they neither found me disputing with anyone in the temple nor stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or throughout the city.

ACT 24:13

KJV: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
BSB: Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.
Koinōnos: Nor can they prove to you the things they are now accusing me of.

ACT 24:14

KJV: 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:
BSB: I 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,
Koinōnos: But I confess this to you: that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything that is written in the Law and in the Prophets,

ACT 24:15

KJV: 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.
BSB: and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Koinōnos: having a hope toward God — which these men themselves also accept — that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

ACT 24:16

KJV: And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
BSB: In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
Koinōnos: In view of this, I myself strive to always maintain a blameless conscience before God and men.

ACT 24:17

KJV: Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.
BSB: After several years, then, I returned to Jerusalem to bring alms to my people and to present offerings.
Koinōnos: Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to make offerings,

ACT 24:18

KJV: Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
BSB: At 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
Koinōnos: in the course of which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd, and not with any uproar — but some Jews from Asia,

ACT 24:19

KJV: Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.
BSB: who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
Koinōnos: who ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.

ACT 24:20

KJV: Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
BSB: Otherwise, let these men state for themselves any crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,
Koinōnos: Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,

ACT 24:21

KJV: 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.
BSB: unless 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.’”
Koinōnos: unless it is for this one statement that I cried out while standing among them: 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 24:10

I present a defense;:The word translated 'I present a defense' implies a formal, legal defense in a court of law, where one speaks to clear oneself of charges.

ACT 24:14

Way:The term translated 'Way' was a common self-designation for early Christians, suggesting a distinct manner of life and belief, not just a path or road.
a sect:The word translated 'a sect' could refer to a philosophical school or a distinct party within a larger group, not necessarily implying a negative or heretical connotation as 'sect' often does today.

ACT 24:16

strive:The word translated 'strive' suggests a deliberate and disciplined effort, like an athlete training or an artisan perfecting their craft, not just a casual attempt.