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ACTS 25
can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem
no more than twelve days ago to worship at the
Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing
with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot
in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.
13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which
they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and
everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the
same hope in God that these men have, that he
will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain
a clear conscience before God and all people.
17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to
offer sacrifices to God. 18 My accusers saw me in
the Temple as I was completing a purification
ceremony. There was no crowd around me and
no rioting. 19 But some Jews from the province
of Asia were there—and they ought to be here
to bring charges if they have anything against
me! 20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish
high council* found me guilty of, 21 except for
the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before
you today because I believe in the resurrection
of the dead!’”
22 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar
with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said,
“Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered
an officer* to keep Paul in custody but to give
him some freedom and allow his friends to visit
him and take care of his needs.
24 A few days later Felix came back with his
wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for
Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in
Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about
righteousness and self-control and the coming
day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go
• Conscience
ACT S 2 4 :1 6
Just as a view is better through a clean
window, life is sweeter with a clear conscience. Paul understood this and even
preached it before the governor of the
land. Stay away from sin, and your conscience will witness for you rather than
against you. This verse also suggests that
our consciences witness for or against
us not only to ourselves but also to God.
God has given each of us a conscience;
that conscience is designed to work with
the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin and
warn us of danger.
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away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped
that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him
quite often and talked with him.
27 After two years went by in this way, Felix
was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because
Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish
people, he left Paul in prison.
Paul Appears before Festus
Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, 2 where the leading
priests and other Jewish leaders met with him
and made their accusations against Paul. 3 They
asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the
way). 4 But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there
soon. 5 So he said, “Those of you in authority
can return with me. If Paul has done anything
wrong, you can make your accusations.”
6 About eight or ten days later Festus returned
to Caesarea, and on the following day he took
his seat in court and ordered that Paul be
brought in. 7 When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made
many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.
8 Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of
any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple
or the Roman government,” he said.
9 Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews,
asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem
and stand trial before me there?”
10 But Paul replied, “No! This is the official
Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here.
You know very well I am not guilty of harming
the Jews. 11 If I have done something worthy of
death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent,
no one has a right to turn me over to these men
to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”
12 Festus conferred with his advisers and then
replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”
13 A few days later King Agrippa arrived with
his sister, Bernice,* to pay their respects to Festus. 14 During their stay of several days, Festus
discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is
a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was
left for me by Felix. 15 When I was in Jerusalem,
the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed
charges against him and asked me to condemn
him. 16 I pointed out to them that Roman law
does not convict people without a trial. They
must be given an opportunity to confront their
accusers and defend themselves.
17 “When his accusers came here for the
trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very
next day and ordered Paul brought in. 18 But
25
24:20 Greek Sanhedrin. 24:23 Greek a centurion.
25:13 Greek Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived.