Acts 24 — Paul before Felix — Greek text and reception
Each card preserves the Greek reading and its textual and reception notes. This source provides a Greek study edition; Hebrew counterparts and Hebrew–Greek classifications are not supplied.
Acts 24 — Paul before Felix
Tertullus presents the accusation
Verse 24:1
Greek–English Translation
After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an advocate named Tertullus. They presented their case against Paul to the governor.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Rhētōr is the speaking advocate in the hearing. Some elders is the selected description, not an unqualified all elders.
Verse 24:2
Greek–English Translation
When Paul was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Through you we enjoy much peace, and reforms are being made for this nation through your foresight.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: This praise is the advocate’s opening rhetoric, not an independently verified judgment of Felix’s administration.
Verse 24:3
Greek–English Translation
In every way and everywhere we acknowledge this, most excellent Felix, with all gratitude.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:4
Greek–English Translation
But so that I may not detain you further, I ask you in your kindness to hear us briefly.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:5
Greek–English Translation
For we have found this man to be a plague, stirring up disturbances among all the Jews throughout the inhabited world, and a ringleader of the party of the Nazarenes.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Plague, disturbances, and ringleader are the accuser’s characterizations. Hairesis is party or sect here, the public label being contested in Paul’s reply at 24:14.
Verse 24:6
Greek–English Translation
He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: The selected verse ends at we seized him; it does not include the subsequent longer account of judging him by their law and Lysias’s intervention. The accusation says tried to profane, and is translated as the advocate’s claim.
Verse 24:7
Greek–English Translation
[Editorial absence notice: SBLGNT has no main-text wording at conventional Acts 24:7.]
Textual and Reception Notes
Numbering: The source passes directly from 24:6 to 24:8. The longer addition associated with this position also extends into conventional 24:6 and 24:8; no absent portions are silently supplied. Evidence: SBL-ACTS-APP, 24:6 reports the longer passage spanning conventional 24:6b–8a under TR; the absence is larger than this single numbered position.
Verse 24:8
Greek–English Translation
By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn about all these things of which we accuse him.”
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Him naturally refers to Paul in the selected shorter text, which has not introduced Lysias in an intervening addition.
Verse 24:9
Greek–English Translation
The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.
Textual and Reception Notes
Paul’s defense and hope of resurrection
Verse 24:10
Greek–English Translation
When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul answered, “Knowing that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense concerning myself.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:11
Greek–English Translation
You can ascertain that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:12
Greek–English Translation
They did not find me disputing with anyone or gathering a crowd, whether in the temple, in the synagogues, or in the city.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:13
Greek–English Translation
Nor can they present proof to you of the things they now accuse me of.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:14
Greek–English Translation
But I confess this to you: according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the ancestral God, believing everything according to the law and written in the prophets,
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: The Way and their label sect are distinguished. Ancestral God means the God of the fathers, not a newly supplied pagan ancestor deity.
Verse 24:15
Greek–English Translation
having hope in God—which these people themselves also await—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Both groups are explicit; resurrection is not restricted to the righteous in this statement.
Verse 24:16
Greek–English Translation
For this reason I myself strive always to have a conscience without offense toward God and human beings.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:17
Greek–English Translation
After several years I came to bring alms to my nation and offerings.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Both alms and offerings are named. No amount or collection itinerary is inserted into this verse.
Verse 24:18
Greek–English Translation
While I was engaged in these, they found me purified in the temple, with neither a crowd nor an uproar.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: The relative phrase links to the preceding charitable and offering activities; the sentence’s transition to the absent Asian accusers is compressed in 24:19.
Verse 24:19
Greek–English Translation
But there were some Jews from Asia who ought to be present before you and bring charges, if they had anything against me.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: There were supplies an English connection for the Greek’s nominative transition. The point is that the original Asian accusers should be present to substantiate their charge.
Verse 24:20
Greek–English Translation
Or let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council,
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:21
Greek–English Translation
except for this one declaration I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged before you today.’”
Textual and Reception Notes
Felix postpones the case
Verse 24:22
Greek–English Translation
Felix, who knew the matters concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their case, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: Felix’s prior knowledge is stated by the narrator; the text does not specify how he acquired it.
Verse 24:23
Greek–English Translation
He ordered the centurion to keep Paul in custody but grant him some freedom, and not prevent any of his own people from attending to him.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:24
Greek–English Translation
After some days Felix came with his own wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He summoned Paul and heard him concerning faith in Christ Jesus.
Textual and Reception Notes
Verse 24:25
Greek–English Translation
As Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and answered, “Go away for now. When I find an opportunity, I will summon you.”
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: All three topics are retained, as is Felix’s fear rather than an inferred conversion.
Verse 24:26
Greek–English Translation
At the same time he hoped that Paul would give him money. Therefore he summoned him more frequently and conversed with him.
Textual and Reception Notes
Text: The narrator explicitly states the monetary hope; the selected wording does not add a separate so that he might release him clause.
Verse 24:27
Greek–English Translation
When two years were completed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. Wishing to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul bound.
Textual and Reception Notes