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

¹⁰ When the governor had motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "Realizing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. ¹¹ Since you can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² They did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues, or in the city. ¹³ Neither can they prove to you the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do worship the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, ¹⁵ having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there will certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and men. ¹⁷ Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. ¹⁸ As I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or uproar. But there were some Jews from Asia ¹⁹ who ought to be here before you and to make accusation, if they should have anything against me. ²⁰ Or else let these men themselves tell what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the Council, ²¹ except this one thing which I shouted out while standing among them, 'With respect to the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.'"