Acts 24:10-21 - Paul's Defense Before Felix

¹⁰ Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully offer a defense for my self: ¹¹ for you can understand that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² And they found me neither disputing with any one in the temple, nor exciting the multitude in the synagogue, or in the city: ¹³ nor are they able to prove the things of which they now accuse me. ¹⁴ But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers; believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets; ¹⁵ having hope in God, which they themselves also admit, that I there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. ¹⁶ And I do exercise myself in this, always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. ¹⁷ But, after many years, I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and offerings. ¹⁸ While engaged in these things, certain Jews from Asia found me fulfilling my vow of abstinence in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with tumult. ¹⁹ These ought to be here before you, and bring their charge, if they have any, against me. ²⁰ Or let these persons here say, what offensive conduct they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, ²¹ except in this one expression, which I uttered while standing among them: With respect to the resurrection I of the dead, I am judged by you this day.