Thematic Bible: Tertullus flatters felix

And, when the hearing came on, Tertullus began his speech for the prosecution. "We owe it to your Excellency," he said, "that we are enjoying profound peace, and we owe it to your foresight that this nation is constantly securing reforms--advantages which we very gratefully accept at all times and places. But--not to be tedious--I beg you, with your accustomed fairness, to listen to a brief statement of our case.