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

¹⁰ And when the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul answered [the charges, by saying], "I know [Your Excellency] that you have administered justice for this nation for many years, so I am glad to make my defense [before you]. ¹¹ [I know] you can verify that it has not been over twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² [While there] I was not observed arguing with anyone or trying to stir up a crowd [to riot] in the Temple or in the synagogues or [anywhere else] in the city. ¹³ Neither can anyone prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me. ¹⁴ But, I declare to you, I am serving the God of our forefathers according to the 'Way,' called [by my detractors] a sect, and I believe everything that is in harmony with the law of Moses and what is written in [the writings of] the prophets. ¹⁵ I have a hope in God that there will be a resurrection both for those who have done right and those who have done wrong, just as the Jews themselves also expect. ¹⁶ So, for this reason I make every effort to have a clear conscience before God and men at all times. ¹⁷ "Now after several years I came [to Jerusalem] to bring relief for the poor people of my nation and to present my offerings. ¹⁸ While doing this, they [i.e., the Jews] found out that I had undergone the rites of purification in the Temple. There was no crowd and no commotion. But certain Jews from [the province of] Asia ¹⁹ should have been here before you, [Your Excellency] to make their accusations, if they [really] had a valid charge against me. ²⁰ Or let these men themselves [i.e., members of the Sanhedrin] testify what they found wrong with me when I stood before their Council [meeting]. ²¹ However, this one point, which I made when I stood among them [could have been objectionable]: I shouted, 'The reason I am being charged before you today is [my preaching of] the resurrection of the dead.' "